Advertisement
Coronavirus pandemic
AsiaAustralasia

Coronavirus: New Zealand agrees to Australia travel bubble; South Korea shuts schools

  • PM Jacinda Ardern said her cabinet had agreed in principle to start the trans-Tasman quarantine free travel bubble in the first quarter of 2021
  • South Korea reported 718 new Covid-19 cases, down from the record daily increase of 1,030 a day earlier

Reading Time:5 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
A passenger arrives from New Zealand after Australia allowed travel from the country in October. New Zealand’s cabinet has approved quarantine-free travel from Australia in the first quarter of 2021. Photo: Reuters
Reuters
New Zealand on Monday agreed to allow quarantine-free travel with Australia in the first quarter of 2021, nearly a year after it locked down its borders to protect its population from the global coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the cabinet had agreed in principle for the trans-Tasman quarantine free travel bubble pending confirmation from the Australian cabinet, and no significant changes in circumstances of either countries.

“It is our intention to name a date … in the new year once remaining details are locked down,” Ardern said in Wellington.

New Zealand’s has virtually eliminated Covid-19 within its borders by enforcing a tough lockdown and keeping its borders shut to all foreigners for most part of the year.

Ardern said more work was needed to ensure safe travel and New Zealand would move cautiously to finalise arrangements like managing airline crew, segregating travellers and others.

“Of course we want to progress on these issues including quarantine-free travel, but we haven’t taken risks before as that means New Zealanders won’t be able to keep their freedom, and I certainly don’t want to take those risks right now,” Ardern said.

Advertisement