The Australia and New Zealand travel bubble pause has sadly been extended, for a further 72 hours at least. 

The decision comes after another two cases of the South African strain of coronavirus were found in returned travellers to Auckland, as per 9news.

“This recommendation has been made to the Australian Government,” Acting Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said.

“The government has accepted the advice, and so the travel pause on green zone flights from New Zealand to Australia has been extended for a further 72 hours until 2pm on Sunday, 31 January.”

Any travellers to New Zealand who arrived in the country after January 9th are being urged to get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received.

Professor Kidd also confirmed that some of the people held in hotel quarantine at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland where the positive coronavirus cases were detected, then travelled on to Australia before the new lockdown was implemented.

“A small number of people who were in hotel quarantine in the Pullman Hotel in Auckland at the same time as these other cases have since travelled to Australia on green zone flights before the pause was introduced on Monday afternoon,” Professor Kidd said.

“All these people are being followed up by the health authorities in the state where they landed. We know that 12 people who were in quarantine at the Pullman Hotel have arrived in Sydney. Three of these people have travelled onto Hong Kong and the authorities there have been advised. Two of these people travelled onto Queensland and the authorities there have also been advised.”

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had been considering forming a Trans-Tasman travel bubble directly between Australian states and her country instead of a nationwide agreement.

However, this morning she said that the final decision on when to reopen the Trans-Tasman travel bubble will be a matter for Australian officials.

“I maintain the same position I always have, which is confidence in our systems,” Ms Ardern said this morning. “I also totally acknowledge it is a decision for the Australians.”

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