New Zealand has just announced the immediate pause to the trans-Tasman COVID-19 travel bubble with Australia, bringing this to a burst just shortly after it was started.
The NZ government has announced it will pause the travel bubble between all Australian states and territories for three days beginning from 8:30PM AEST on Saturday.
While this is (at least for now) just a three day break following an earlier block on all flights from New South Wales it could very well be that the measure will be extended well beyond.
As ABC News reports the stop on the bubble goes into effect immediately at 8:30pm AEST.
The New Zealand government has announced it will pause the travel bubble between all Australian states and territories for three days beginning from 8:30PM AEST on Saturday.
It said the decision followed updated public health advice regarding multiple cases and outbreaks across Australia in differing stages of containment.
The travel bubble will remain paused until 10:00pm Tuesday AEST.
NZ’s COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the pause was necessary due to the growing number of cases being reported across Australia.
“I acknowledge the frustration and inconvenience that comes with this pause, but given the high level of transmissibility of what appears to be the Delta variant, and the fact that there are now multiple community clusters, it is the right thing to do to keep COVID-19 out of New Zealand,” Mr Hipkins said.
In a statement, the NZ government said it would continue to monitor the situation closely and the decision would be reviewed on Monday.
“This short pause will give us time to get a better understanding of the developing situation and to consider a range of measures to make the bubble safer, such as the possible introduction of pre-departure testing for all flights from Australia to New Zealand,” the statement said.
The statement said anyone who was in Australia from June 21 and was now in New Zealand should monitor their symptoms and regularly check Australian exposure sites. …
The NZ government had already decided to close the travel bubble to New South Wales until July 7.
The bubble only reopened to Melbourne residents on Tuesday, after being closed for a month.
These travel bubbles were an idea from the early days of the pandemic based on the assumption that travel between certain countries with limited to no covid spread could be facilitated on a channel-travel like basis.
What these countries do have in common however is a hypersensitivity about even the smallest number of Covid cases and that as soon as there is some sort of a cluster or small outbreak that makes the news these bilateral travel agreements are cancelled and traffic stopped.
With such uncertainty there is almost no way that travel will return to any level of normality. Not saying that the concerns are without merit as we’ve seen in the case of Thailand that went from excellent to and absolute cluster**** as far as the C-19 situation is concerned. This was largely based on corruption and disregard for procedure though. I think Australia and New Zealand would be able to handle their bubble better despite a few cases here and there.
Conclusion
The NZ/AUS travel bubble between New Zealand all Australian states and territories has been cancelled (paused) for at least three days, beginning from 8:30PM AEST on Saturday on the behest of the NZ government. The travel bubble will remain paused until (at least) 10:00pm Tuesday AEST however it’s very well possible that it won’t open up again on that day. There is very little of the situation that could make a complete 180 in terms of improvement.
Lets be hopeful that will be resolved soon and that Aussies and Kiwis and soon hop on the plane again to fly over.
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Ahahaha!! These guys in the South are so funny.
They have been bragging for months about their low COVID numbers (during their Summer season). Now that the cold season is coming, they will have to deal with rising case numbers.
Yet, you will still have a very large majority of the residents claiming that “Life is normal in Australia”. Full lockdown for millions as soon as 3-4 cases are detected.
They will still be locking down people for the next 10 years.
Correct! Also, herd immunity might never be achieved in Aus as many dont see any reason to get vaccinated so if this circus continues Aus probably will have to live as a hermit state forever.
I suspect most folks here will get vaccinated when they are actually elegible for one in a few months. Australians have a habit of being fairly compliant with whatever the government wants them to do, even if there is big talk otherwise in advance.
A good number of those that hold out might very well change their mind when border arrangements become a little more liberal again.
Ten years in lockdown – sounds like old time penal transportation to Botany bay – by the British Empire 😉
Countries with rapid and mass vaccination have it right, only way this crap is ever going to end, allow vaccinated travelers to do what they want and those who chose not to to sit at home growling about how unfair it is.
The latest news out of Israel is very alarming and would definitely give Australia and New Zealand concern about opening to visitors from other nations. Israel has gone back to mandatory masks in indoor settings and half of those diagnosed with the Delta variant who are hospitalized have been fully vaccinated. Based upon that info, it would appear that rapid and mass vaccination is not going to end this crap either. I feel much safer around individuals I know have been infected vice those who have been vaccinated and the news out of Israel further confirms my feelings.
Easy now..no vaccine is 100% effective and infections will continue happening. The outcome of breakthrough infections will not be as severe though.
Unfortunately we have no way of knowing if breakthrough infections will not be more severe. Several virologists have theorized that those who are only partially vaccinated may actually permit the virus to mutate and create new variants that the vaccine will not be effective against. I hope they are wrong but their theories should at least be considered.
Cases of Covid-Delta in the vaccinated are much less severe than the unvaccinated. Which is exactly what the experts had stated all along.
Actually, the opposite is true. The following article does not provide age data but it does illustrate that when there is a breakthrough infection the odds of getting severe covid are slightly higher than for someone unvaccinated.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/death-rate-from-variant-covid-virus-six-times-higher-for-vaccinated-than-unvaccinated-uk-health-data-show
If you read the Pfizer trial you will also discover the odds of having severe covid if you get infected are higher among those vaccinated than in the placebo group but the number of severe cases was so small as to be insignificant from a statistics viewpoint.
I have rebooked my travel 9 times. It just is beyond a joke last year in Europe and North Africa I transited without issue for months. There were small restrictions late last year for Italy and this year for France and Italy but this is insane!
Thanks god I m not intrested to go to AUS / NZ. Now with their lockdown and panic attitude even less.
What makes you think you’d be welcome.? Hope this helps !
@disqus_OHfFLV95iP:disqus Are you dumb? Someone who has ZERO interest in visiting a destination does not care about being welcome or not
No but I see YOU R
I don’t have to worry about their issues, because I have no desire to travel there. But, since basically they’re not vaccinating people much, that new Covid Delta and Delta Plus is over 100% more infectious/transmissible. And the problem is most people just caught it “in passing” by someone because nobody there was wearing masks. From what scientists are saying, the actual spikes on this new virus are like hooks compared to the original virus that came from wuhan, so it has no problem attaching its self and they say this variant is hypersensitive and energized.
Also, the WHO just stated this yesterday in regards to the “Delta/Delta Plus” covid variant that is spreading across the world:
“Vaccine alone won’t stop community transmission. People need to use masks consistently, be in ventilated spaces—even if you’re vaccinated”
Australian began as a prison colony..
They gained their freedom..
Now they in prison themselves forever.
(over a stupid common flu virus the rest of the world is finally starting to realize was never a big deal in the first place)
The idea you could “stop” the virus was really stupid a year ago. Today is absolutely batshit insanity. Auzzies, get the bloody virus like the rest of us and get it over with, bloody wimps.
Just for clarity, the bubble is still functioning in one direction .. flights from NZ to AU still going. This pause is really much ado about nothing to be honest.. it will fire up again in a few days minor inconvenience. Give a hug country some time to catch up on vaccinations and all will come good. Travel safe all.
Just got done talking with my mate in New Zealand, these media outlets need to stop the lies. He has a sis that works at the local hospital in Auckland, not one case.
Good insight SS so true
Given that Israel prohibits its citizens from visiting certain high risk countries, has reinstated an indoor mask mandate, and has over half of those hospitalized from the Delta variant being fully vaccinated, I can definitely see Australia and New Zealand’s concerns. They can sit back and wait and see how the pandemic plays out going forward. Why would you vaccinate an entire population when you can see the problems arising in Israel, Chile, Seychelles, Mongolia, etc.? Of course at some point, they will have to reopen to the world but it would appear time is still on their side.
Boom it is mostly back on again! Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory from Monday will start flying again .. much ado.