NZ joins states and territories in scramble to shut borders following Victoria’s snap lockdown

New Zealand has joined the states and territories in tightening their border restrictions for those travelling from Victoria in response to the state’s snap five-day lockdown.

Kiwi COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced New Zealand would pause quarantine-free travel from Victoria to New Zealand from 1:59am this morning following updated public health advice.

The pause will run for at least four days and is expected to be reviewed on Monday.

“As with previous pauses, we acknowledge the frustration and inconvenience that comes with any interruption to trans-Tasman travel, but given the ongoing level of uncertainty around transmission in Melbourne, this is the right action to take,” Hipkins said.

“It is also in keeping with our consistently cautious approach to prevent COVID-19 entering the New Zealand community.”

Quarantine-free travel from NSW remains paused, and managed return flights are still in place, meaning travellers will have to go into managed isolation for 14 days after arriving in New Zealand.

Travel from all other Australian states to NZ remains open, subject to evidence of a negative pre-departure test within 72 hours of departure and a completed health declaration.

From Saturday, Queensland will no longer allow anyone who has been in Victoria in the past 14 days to enter the state, excluding Queensland residents.

Victoria joins the Greater Sydney, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shell Harbour regions of NSW on Queensland’s list of hotspots.

Last night, South Australia and Tasmania closed their borders to all of Victoria, after SA began bolstering itself against the state yesterday by announcing that those who had been in Melbourne would need to get tested within 24 hours of arrival.

Both states have also banned any person arriving from NSW, as the state battles to contain its Greater Sydney outbreak.

The Northern Territory stopped short of banning the whole state by imposing a 14-day mandatory quarantine period on anyone who enters the state from Greater Melbourne and Greater Geelong as of yesterday evening.

Western Australia preemptively declared anyone travelling from Victoria would need to self-quarantine for 14 days, undergo a health screening and get tested on arrival and on day 11.

Featured image source: iStock/bgblue