New Zealanders entering Australia will be exempt from the country’s hotel quarantine system from midnight tonight as both nations move closer towards a COVID-normal.
According to the ABC, quarantine-free travel will resume for our trans-Tasman mates from 11:59pm February 21.
However, travellers who have been in Auckland within the two weeks of their travel date will be required to return a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before their departure in order to bypass the quarantine system.
The news comes after the quarantine-free travel bubble was suspended in January as a result of the highly-contagious South African strain of the virus.
“The AHPPC monitors the situation in many locations and will continue to advise on a range of decisions in the interest of the health of all Australians,” Professor Paul Kelly said in a statement.
“These decisions are not easy and we do not take them lightly, and all AHPPC members appreciate the ongoing patience and flexibility of Australians and New Zealanders, including those in the tourism and travel industry.
“We will continue to move quickly to protect Australians as circumstances change, but we will always endeavour to move just as quickly when those situations are brought under control, or otherwise resolve.”
Unfortunately, the bubble only applies for NZ residents visiting Australia, and not the alternative (yet).
More to come.
