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SYDNEY: Hundreds of New Zealand jet passengers began arriving in Sydney on Friday (October 16) as part of a new travel bubble through Tasmania amid a rapidly falling rate of growth in cases at the epicenter. of the coronavirus outbreak in Australia.
In a tentative reopening to international tourism, travelers on approved flights should not be quarantined in Sydney, authorities said.
However, the arrangements are not yet reciprocal, as New Zealand requires arrivals to be quarantined for two weeks under supervision at a cost of NZ $ 3,100 (US $ 2,045) for the first person and more for additional members of the family.
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About 90 percent of those flying on Friday with Air New Zealand are booked for one-way travel, the airline said.
Deccy Ledezma is greeted by a friend as she arrives from New Zealand after the Trans-Tasmania travel bubble opened overnight, following a prolonged border closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak , at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 16. , 2020. REUTERS / Loren Elliott
New South Wales State Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she expects New Zealand to relax restrictions on people arriving from Australia shortly.
“It is an important first step in regaining international travel and we hope Prime Minister (Jacinda) Ardern will return the favor in the near future,” Berejiklian said, referring to the New Zealand leader.
There was a new case of community transmission in New South Wales in the past 24 hours, Berejiklian said, adding that he would like to announce further easing of restrictions next week if the case count remains low.
Passengers arrive from New Zealand after the Trans-Tasman travel bubble opened overnight, following a prolonged border closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, at Sydney Airport in Sydney, Australia, October 16, 2020. REUTERS / Loren Elliott
While Australia has suffered a second wave of infections, the case burden is modest compared to outbreaks in much of Europe and North America.
With the exception of those living in the south-eastern state of Victoria, most people in Australia are subject to modest pandemic restrictions, with the limits on meetings being the main disturbance.
In Victoria, the epicenter of Australia’s second wave of infections, authorities recorded just two new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the lowest daily increase since early June.
Victoria, and particularly the state capital of Melbourne, have endured months of strict lockdown measures, although Prime Minister Daniel Andrews is due to announce plans to ease some restrictions on Sunday.
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Andrews said Friday that the state was “well placed to take important steps” to ease the restrictions.
Travelers from New Zealand on “non-quarantine” flights will be able to go to New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory without having to undergo quarantine upon arrival, authorities said.
The states of Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania have closed borders or limited entries that can include quarantine periods, while the Victorians have strict restrictions on where they can travel.
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