Trans-Tasman bubble (Quarantine-Free Travel)

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mattwnz

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#2747148 20-Jul-2021 14:40

wellygary:

SA to enter 7 day lockdown from 6pm tonight....

So I expect this afternoon that the Australia "pause" will be expanded to include SA meaning we remain "open" to WA,QLD and TAS...

You have to wonder why they haven't closed off that state from the bubble already, as they have now got community transmission. Another game of Russian Roulette.

If NZ gets community cases popping up of the Delta variant from this, parts of NZ will likely go straight into a level 3 or 4 lockdown, especially as hardly anyone scanning. Then that will be a huge cost to the economy.

I also heard that a hospital in NZ is already full due to respiratory illnesses and some are on ventilators, and cancelling scheduled stuff. It does seem a bit odd, I hope none of them are undetected covid.

tdgeek

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#2747153 20-Jul-2021 14:58

mattwnz:

I also heard that a hospital in NZ is already full due to respiratory illnesses and some are on ventilators, and cancelling scheduled stuff. It does seem a bit odd, I hope none of them are undetected covid.

The kids RSV that @Finewine posted at GZ recently?

FineWine

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#2747176 20-Jul-2021 15:41

tdgeek:

mattwnz:

I also heard that a hospital in NZ is already full due to respiratory illnesses and some are on ventilators, and cancelling scheduled stuff. It does seem a bit odd, I hope none of them are undetected covid.

The kids RSV that @Finewine posted at GZ recently?

My post is here: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=161&topicid=265423&page_no=1409#2739636

@Scott3 also personally mentioned this in his post: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=161&topicid=265423&page_no=1408#2739503

Also here are some Herald articles: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/search/RSV/

My elderly sister-n-law and partner both have coughs and throats and mild chests, their Dr only swabbed them for COVID (they are vaccinated) not RSV, I told them to go back, but she is a retired radiology nurse of 40 yrs ago and knows it all, so no helping there.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

freitasm

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#2748721 23-Jul-2021 13:54

Press release:

Quarantine Free Travel from all Australian states and territories to New Zealand is being suspended as the Covid situation there worsens, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced today.

From 11.59pm today Australians will no longer be able to enter New Zealand quarantine-free. This will be in place for at least the next 8 weeks.

For the next seven days there will be managed return flights for New Zealanders from all states and territories that will require proof of a negative pre-departure test. Additionally, those who have been in NSW will still have to go into MIQ for 14 days. And those who have been in Victoria must self-isolate upon return and have a negative Day 3 test.

The Government is working closely with airlines to ensure there are flights available over this period, and extend it for a few days if necessary.

The decision to suspend travel follows updated public health advice from officials on the growing number of cases and locations of interest across Australia in recent days and weeks.

“There are now multiple outbreaks, and in differing stages of containment, that have forced three states into lockdown. The health risk to New Zealanders from these cases is increasing,” Jacinda Ardern said.

“We’ve always said that our response would evolve as the virus evolved. This is not a decision we have taken lightly, but it is the right decision to keep New Zealanders safe.

“Now is the time for a suspension to ensure New Zealanders aren’t put at undue risk from COVID-19 and to ensure we retain our hard won gains. Our team of five million has worked hard to put us in a strong position both health-wise and economically. We will not risk that,” Jacinda Ardern said.

Chris Hipkins said the Government acknowledges the frustration and inconvenience that comes with any interruption to Trans-Tasman travel.

“Given the high level of transmissibility of the Delta variant, and the fact that there are now multiple community clusters, it is the right thing to do to keep COVID-19 out of New Zealand,” Chris Hipkins said.

“The worsening situation in New South Wales, seepage across state borders and our consistently cautious approach to prevent COVID-19 from entering the New Zealand community, we are confident this is the right action to take,” Chris Hipkins said.

The suspension will give Australia time to manage its current outbreaks, while giving New Zealand health officials the time to monitor the situation, assess travel developments in other countries and consider different QFT settings while ensuring New Zealanders are safe.

“We do want the bubble to resume. We remain committed to it, and when I spoke to PM Scott Morrison this morning I conveyed this view directly. But it must be safe,” Jacinda Ardern said.

Notes for editors

Managed return green flights, without a requirement to enter MIQ, will be facilitated for travelers in low-medium risk states from 11.59pm on Friday 23 July to 11:59pm on Friday 30^th July initially.

Travellers from Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia, ACT and Norfolk Island, can come home on a green flight subject to the below public health criteria:

A negative pre-departure test, taken within 72-hours of their intended travel to New Zealand.
Have not been in a location of interest in the past 14 days.
Are not symptomatic at the time of travel.
Are not a contact of a COVID-19 case.
Eligible people from Victoria or travellers from other states/territories who have been in Victoria can return provided they also:

Adhere to lockdown measures in Victoria
Self-isolate upon return to New Zealand and get a test at day 3
Travel to the airport wearing facemasks and by safe travel, ie, not public transport.
Eligible people from New South Wales will continue to return on existing managed return flights. Returnees on these flights will be required to enter a managed isolation facility for at least 14 days on arrival in New Zealand.

Travel on all such flights will be limited to:

New Zealand citizens and holders of residence class visas;
Holders of temporary visas and Australian citizens, who last departed New Zealand after 5 April 2021;
Holders of current permanent residence visas (including a resident return visa) issued by the Government of Australia who last departed New Zealand after 5 April 2021; and
Relevant family members of people listed in the above categories. (Relevant family member means: a spouse, civil union partner, or de facto partner, a dependent child; or a parent of a dependent child. Parent, in relation to a dependent child, means a person on whom the child is dependant)
All travellers are asked to monitor themselves closely for any COVID-19 symptoms after arrival in the country and to diligently keep contact tracing records using the NZ COVID Tracer app or another form of diary.
Likewise, anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home, get tested, and remain in isolation until a negative test result is returned.

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freitasm

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#2779918 17-Sep-2021 14:36

Press release:

The suspension of quarantine-free travel (QFT) with Australia has been extended, given the current Delta outbreaks, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said today.

“When QFT was established with Australia, both our countries had very few recent cases of COVID-19 community transmission, and a very similar elimination strategy. This has changed significantly leading to our decision to suspend QFT for a further eight weeks,” Chris Hipkins said.

“Uncontrolled community transmission is still occurring in Australia, with case numbers continuing to steadily increase in New South Wales, Victoria, and the Australian Capital Territory. A small number of cases also continue to appear intermittently in other states and territories. In New Zealand as well, we’re getting on top of an outbreak in Auckland.

“Protecting New Zealand from any possible further spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 is our absolute priority. We have made great progress to contain our current outbreak and are working hard to ease restrictions next week. Reopening quarantine-free travel with Australia at this point could put those gains at risk.

“The decision is critical to provide clarity for people in Australia to make informed decisions about their ability to shelter in place in the longer-term or whether to seek return flights and book space in MIQ.

“One of the reasons we established QFT with Australia was because our countries share so many close connections, and I acknowledge that this further suspension will be disappointing for many people.

“We’re announcing the decision today so that people in Australia can participate in the MIQ room release on Monday for rooms in October and November. Travellers from Australia need to visit the MIQ website to find out how to participate. There will be a second room release later in the month.

“A third red flight from Australia to New Zealand is also planned for those in emergency situations. This follows the two red flights that returned stranded Kiwis home to New Zealand on 5 and 15 September.”

The costs of flights and MIQ will need to be covered by travellers, and a pre-departure test from an accredited laboratory, also at the traveller’s cost, will be required within 72 hours of travel.

“We will review this decision in mid to late November to give more time for our vaccination rates to climb higher. It will be heavily influenced by the policies we’re working on for the Reconnecting New Zealand strategy.

“This recognises that the QFT was established on the basis that there was little to no community transmission in Australia, and that future settings are likely to change,” Chris Hipkins said.

The start of a maritime QFT system with Australia will be paused and reconsidered in 2022.

QFT from Australia to New Zealand was suspended on Friday 23 July, and the suspension was due to end on 24 September.

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