NSW COVID: The travel bubble for New Zealanders will not be extended
Health authorities say the risk of travellers coming in from New Zealand has been deemed low enough to lift the quarantine restrictions imposed last month.
NSW Coronavirus News
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Quarantine-free “green zone” travel into Australia from New Zealand has resumed after a case of highly infectious COVID-19 prompted a temporary pause.
The one-way travel bubble allowing New Zealanders free movement into Australia was initially suspended on January 25 for 72 hours after a woman tested positive for the South African coronavirus strain.
The pause was extended until 2pm Sunday after a further two people tested positive for COVID-19.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Michael Kidd said after receiving more information from New Zealand health officials, and with no additional cases, the situation had now been deemed safe enough to resume “green zone” flights.
“Green zone flights from New Zealand into Australia are now judged to be sufficiently low risk, given New Zealand’s strong public health response to COVID-19,” he said.
Prof Kidd said in an “abundance of caution” health officials had made several recommendations to amend the travel bubble conditions.
The rules already required people to have spent at least 14 days in New Zealand before being able to fly to Australia, however now that period must specifically be spent in the community and not in hotel quarantine.
Prof Kidd said for the next ten days New Zealanders must submit to pre and post travel checks.
“This screening will check that travellers have not been identified as close contacts of the infected cases who have not visited any of the contact tracing areas of interest in New Zealand, and if they have, that they have been tested and they have received negative test results and clearance as required by the New Zealand authorities,” he said.
DAY 14 OF NO NEW LOCAL CASES IN NSW
NSW has recorded two weeks without any new locally acquired COVID cases.
No new local cases have been reported today, taking our virus-free streak to 14 days.
Today’s cases represent the data from 8,811 tests processed in the 24 hours to 8pm Saturday.
NSW Health said it was a concern that testing rates remain low.
Fragments of the COVID-19 virus were overnight detected in the sewage network at Warriewood, Liverpool and Malabar.
This may reflect known cases in the areas but people who live or work in those areas should remain vigilant for symptoms and get tested if they occur.
UK repatriation flights mooted for stranded
The Australian government has said more repatriation flights may be provided to the UK as a border ban with the UAE leaves stranded Australians confused.
With the UAE a key stopover destination for Australians travelling home from Europe, the border closure could leave stranded Australians without flights home.
Emirates will be suspending all outgoing and ingoing flights with the UK with four final flights departing today.
“As directed by the UK government, Emirates will be suspending passenger services between Dubai and all our UK points – Birmingham, Glasgow, London, Manchester, effective 1300hrs GMT on 29 January 2021 until further notice,” the Emirates statement said.
Etihad has confirmed all flights to the UK are suspended, but reassured travellers all flights leaving the UK will go ahead as planned.
“Following the latest UK government directives, from 1pm (GMT) on 29 January 2021 all Etihad passenger flights to the UK have been suspended until further notice,” the Etihad statement said.
“Etihad is working closely with impacted guests to notify them of the changes to their itineraries and rearrange travel plans. Flights departing the UK remain unaffected and will operate as scheduled.”
The Australia High Commission in the UK has confirmed the Australian government is working with the UK government to determine how stranded Australians will be impacted.
The Australian government will provide more repatriation flights to the UK if needed, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
“We added an extra 20 specific charters, which Simon Birmingham announced a few weeks ago,” Mr Hunt said.
“They were done to make sure that more Australians could come home, so we will have to examine the impact of those particular changes, which we understand and which we respect,” he said.
“And the guidance to Australians is very, very clear, and the Prime Minister has been clear: if more flights are needed, more will be provided.”
Facebook support groups for Australians overseas were flooded with panicked travellers confused if the ban affected them.
The UK government said the border closure is to protect the UK from the highly contagious South Africa strain of COVID-19.
Burundi and Rwanda are also included in the fresh border closures.
GLADYS LAUGHS OFF ANNA’S PLEA
The NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has unleashed on Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s call for JobKeeper to be extended for the tourism industry.
Ms Berejiklian laughed when asked about Ms Palaszczuk’s plea, saying she was a victim of her own policies.
“The whole point that NSW has been so strong in keeping borders open within Australia is to prevent exactly what the QLD Premier is complaining about,” Ms Berejikian said.
“There is no reason why certain premiers act too quickly in shutting down the border to NSW … we are all Australians and we should be moving freely around our country,” she said.
Ms Berejiklian urged other state premiers to think about jobs, families and freedom of Australians when making border decisions.
“There is nowhere in NSW that is a hotspot, so please know NSW is doing really well,” she said.
The Premier also thanked regional communities: “unlike other states we haven’t shut our borders down, we know for regional communities what a hindrance that is.”
NO LOCAL CASES FOR 12 DAYS
It comes as NSW recorded a 12th straight day without a locally acquired coronavirus case.
More than 11,000 people were tested in the last 24 hours with NSW Health concerned testing rates are too low and the virus may be still circulating in the community.
There were three cases in hotel quarantine.
SYDNEY RESTRICTIONS EASE TODAY
NSW residents will enjoy a taste of freedom with some coronavirus restriction easing from today.
The rollback of rules comes as the state continues its streak of zero cases of community transmission, marking its eleventh day of no local cases.
From today, masks are no longer mandatory in shopping centres or supermarkets, but they are recommended for shopping venues.
People will, however, still have to cover up if they are working front-of-house in hospitality, travelling on public transport, in places of worship, at hairdressers, beauticians and gaming rooms.
Aged care facilities and other health settings such as hospitals will receive tailored advice from NSW Health about mask wearing.
Visitors to households will also be increased to 30 guests – including children while outdoor gatherings will be increased to 50 people.
Weddings and funerals will be capped at 300 people, subject to the 1 person per 4 sqm rule with no singing or dancing except 20 nominated people in the wedding party. All guest must also be seated.
A dance at the club is still a while off, however, because all other venues including hospitality venues, places of worship and corporate event venues will be subject to the 1 person per 4 sqm rule, fully seated, with no singing or dancing.
Smaller hospitality venues will be allowed at least 25 people.
Singing will be allowed at indoor venues such as choirs or places of worship, but number will be limited to five people.
The government is expected to reduce the 1 person per 4 sqm rule to 1 person per 2 sqm rule in two weeks’ time if current trends continue.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian urged people to still watch for symptoms and get tested if they develop.
“The community has been outstanding in containing this outbreak. The sacrifice and efforts of everyone is why we can ease restrictions today,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We must remain vigilant – it is critical we are getting tested with the mildest of symptoms, follow the health advice and continue to be COVID-Safe right across the State.”
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