(CNN) – New Zealand will allow Australians to travel to the country without quarantine, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said at a news conference on Tuesday, April 6.
“This is an important step in our response from Covid and represents an agreement that I do not believe we have seen anywhere else in the world. That is, safely opening international travel to another country while continuing to pursue a strategy of elimination and a commitment to keep the virus away, “said Ardern during the event.
According to the new rules, travelers will not be able to travel if they have had a positive Covid-19 test in the previous 14 days or have flu-like symptoms. The prime minister also said that the trip “will not be as planned”, explaining that flights may be suspended again in the event of a new outbreak or travelers may be asked to do a PCR test or quarantine on arrival, depending the nature and origin of the infections.
Ardern also said that travelers from Australia would board flights from the “green zone”.
“This means that there will be no passengers on this flight from anywhere except Australia in the last 14 days,” said Ardern, adding that the crews operating the connection “have not flown on any high-risk routes for a defined period of time. . “
“[This] The travel bubble represents the beginning of a new chapter in our greedy response and recovery, something people have worked so hard on. This makes New Zealand and Australia relatively unique. I know that family, friends and significant parts of our economy will welcome you, as I certainly do, “said Ardern.
And this is not the only “bubble” in the Asia-Pacific region that has failed or been postponed amid the ever-changing pandemic situation.
New Zealand’s hard work to contain the virus seems to have paid off. The country has recorded only 2,524 cases and 26 deaths since the pandemic began.
CNN’s Lilit Marcus contributed reporting.