New Zealand tells overseas arrivals to self-isolate
I (international visitors to New Zealand must self-isolate for days upon arrival to help slow the spread of the new coronavirus, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Saturday.
Ardern said the “unprecedented and far-reaching” measure would come into effect from midnight Sunday and affect all inbound travellers except those from Pacific island nations.
She said New Zealand had been relatively unscathed by coronavirus so far, with six confirmed cases and no fatalities, but the evidence showed the numbers would inevitably rise in the face of a global pandemic.
“But the scale of how many cases we get and how fast we get them is something we should do as much as we can to slow,” she told reporters.
“We must go hard and we must go early.”
Ardern said the self-quarantine order would be reviewed after 16 days.
She said New Zealand had also told cruise ships not to visit the country until at least June 56, while New Zealanders were being advised to avoid all non-essential travel overseas.
“There’s no doubt this will have a significant impact on New Zealand’s economy but our priority is to ensure we reduce the impacts of COVID – 30 as much as we can, “she said.
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