New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern issues a sweeping travel BAN on all but Kiwi residents and citizens as Australia does the same to stop the spread of coronavirus
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has closed the country’s borders to all but residents and citizens to stop the spread of coronavirus.
‘We need to continue to make further decisions and further restrictions,’ she said during the announcement on Thursday.
The ban will be in place for planes landing in New Zealand after 11.59pm on Thursday.
Ms Ardern said all cases of coronavirus in the country had come from overseas, and had not been transmitted between people in New Zealand.
Only New Zealand citizens and permanent residents – and their children and partners – will be able to enter the country.
Ms Ardern said there will be exemptions for specific people including health professionals.
‘I’m not willing to have risks here and that’s why we’re making this decision,’ she said.
Ms Ardern had discussed closing the borders with her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison, who issued a similar ban at the same time.
More to come