PM places border ban on all non-citizens and permanent residents entering NZ

Authored by tvnz.co.nz and submitted by RampagingBees
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A border ban has been placed on all non New Zealand citizens and residents entering the country, the Prime Minister announced today.

Significant outbreaks of coronavirus in other countries have led the New Zealand Government to make further decisions and restrictions regarding the safety of New Zealanders.

"From 11.59pm we will close our border to any non-permanent residents or citizens attempting to visit here."

“I am not willing to make risks here.”

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Cabinet met this afternoon to assess what Jacinda Ardern has called a “rapidly evolving situation” and said that while there was no incidence of community outbreak in New Zealand the measures were necessary, given the outbreaks offshore.

“All of the cases of Covid-19 to date relate to people travelling here and bringing the virus with them,” she said.

“While the majority have been returning New Zealanders, that has not always been the case.

"Therefore we need to continue to make further decisions and further restrictions to limit the risk of people bringing the virus into New Zealand.”

New Zealand citizens and permanent residents will be able to return, includes their children and partners.

Ms Ardern said the changes would also apply to the Pacific which had previously been exempted.

Exemptions would remain for the Pacific for key workers in the health sector and those who need to travel for humanitarian reasons.

She said returning New Zealanders do understand the importance of self-isolation, as spot checks have demonstrated. However visitors to New Zealand have been a concern to her after she says they have not adequately self-isolated.

“That is an unacceptable risk we must end,” Ms Ardern said.

“I want to acknowledge that no time in New Zealand’s history has a power like this been used. And I recognise how extraordinary that is,” she said.

“But we have to make decisions in the best interests of the health of the people who live here.”

She said the measures would help the virus break out in “small waves” of cases rather than the “overwhelming number” experienced in other countries.

Ms Ardern said she told Australian PM Scott Morrison of the decision that was made between 4-5pm today.

Right before Ms Ardern's announcement, Mr Morrison placed a border ban on all non-Australian residents and permanent residents from tomorrow evening.

The total number of Covid-19 coronavirus cases in New Zealand has risen to 28, with eight new cases confirmed today.

Up until now, all travellers entering New Zealand, except from the Pacific Islands, were required to enter self isolation for 14 days and there was a travel ban on mainland China and Iran.

It comes as Winston Peters increased New Zealand's travel advice to its highest level, with all Kiwis advised not to travel overseas and those overseas urged to come home.

turtleattacks on March 19th, 2020 at 05:23 UTC »

Anyone know what's the long game in this?

Flatten the curve? So reduce the number of cases in New Zealand, or at least slow it down.

When do we open it again? When the other countries get them under control?

_Gondamar_ on March 19th, 2020 at 05:09 UTC »

summary of press conference

As of midnight tonight (edit: this time has now passed), borders are closed to anyone who is not an NZ citizen, permanent resident, or immediate family of those groups

Includes temporary visa holders (they won’t be kicked out, but you can’t get in with one), including international students

The ban time start applies to DEPARTING flights, not arrivals. Anyone on a plane that departed before midnight NZ time will be let in.

For anyone curious (like me) this means the latest that anyone will be able to enter the country will be at 6:35 NZDT on the 20th, on flight NZ27 (Chicago to Auckland)

Includes the Pacific (with exemptions for people travelling for humanitarian reasons)

Acknowledges and SLAMS the fact that ppl aren’t following the self-quarantine, says the spot checks are working, and that this decision is based on the fact people weren’t self-quarantining

Don’t panic buy you dumb cunts (paraphrased)

RampagingBees on March 19th, 2020 at 05:08 UTC »

Huge development.

"There continues to be significant outbreaks in other countries and that poses a risk to the rest of the world," Jacinda Ardern said.

"From 11.59pm we will close our border to any non-permanent residents or citizens attempting to visit here."

...

New Zealand citizens and permanent residents will be able to return, includ[ing] their children and partners.

EDIT: Updated the quote from the article to clarify the restrictions.