Australia extends suspension of New Zealand travel bubble for another 72 hours

Australia has extended the suspension of its one-way travel bubble with New Zealand for another 72 hours.

The bubble check should now end on Sunday, January 31 at 4pm NZT.

It comes after the latest revelations from the Health Ministry, where two more people who recently completed the isolation administered at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland tested positive for Covid-19.

Speaking to the Herald, a spokesman for the Prime Minister confirmed the extent of the travel bubble.

“The Prime Minister retains confidence in our systems and processes, but recognized that the decision should be made by the Australian Government.”

Australia’s acting medical director, Professor Michael Kidd, made the announcement at a press conference today.

He said New Zealand had informed Australian health authorities that the three Covid-19 cases were genomically related and had the “variant of concern.”

“The HPPC [Health Protection Principal Committee] It has recommended that the Commonwealth extend the break on Safe Travel Zone flights from New Zealand for a further 72 hours.

“This recommendation has been made to the Australian government, the Australian government has accepted the advice, so the journey stops in the green zone [flights] from New Zealand to Australia has been extended for a further 72 hours.

“He allows the continued protection of the people of Australia while clarifying the scope of the situation in New Zealand,” he said.

“I apologize to those who have had their travel arrangements disrupted.”

On January 25, Australia’s Health Minister Greg Hunt announced that the country would suspend the travel bubble for at least 72 hours as a “precaution” following the discovery of the South African variant Covid-19 in the community.

The changes went into effect at 2 p.m. Australian time Monday, and arrivals to Australia from New Zealand are now required to go into a 14-day quarantine.

At the time, Kidd said the government would wait for more information before deciding whether to extend the suspension.

“The situation is evolving rapidly. We will follow the details of both cases with the New Zealand authorities once more details are known, including the results of additional tests,” he said on Wednesday.

“We have to wait until we hear more details from our colleagues in New Zealand about the additional tests that are being carried out.

“We hope these two people were likely to have been tested during their 14 days in quarantine, but again we have to wait and get those results.”

Meanwhile, Australia has confirmed 10 days without a case of community transmission. The longest period in the country without a community-transmitted infection was 12 days in December.