No new cases but borders shut

Ardern deems calls to reopen the border ‘frankly dangerous’ as virus rages overseas

For the first day in over a fortnight, there were no new reported cases of Covid-19 yesterday. There remain 22 active cases in managed isolation, with one patient in Auckland City Hospital in a stable condition.

But the short reprieve of new cases — the last day of zero cases was June 19 — will not yet mean a loosening of the borders.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern deemed the calls to reopen the border “frankly dangerous”, saying to do so while the pandemic unfurled overseas would risk Covid-19 returning to our shores.

Imported cases had sparked outbreaks in New Zealand, and the current strict border measures were what allowed the current freedoms Kiwis could enjoy.

A resurgence of the virus in Melbourne has forced Australian authorities to consider reinstating restrictions. Thousands of Melbourne residents have been ordered back into lockdown from tomorrow as Victoria battles a second wave.

The Government was considering opening up to Australia and the Pacific, but anything further was currently out of the question, Ardern said.

National Party leader Todd Muller yesterday asked for clarity around the criteria for mandatory quarantine measures in the medium and long term, but did not call for borders to be opened up in the short term.

On Monday he said that waiting for a vaccine or for other countries to eliminate Covid-19 before the border reopens would leave New Zealand “on its knees”.

“A strategy that says we stay completely closed to everybody for the next 12 to 18 months is simply untenable,” he told the Wellington Chamber of Commerce.

“We won’t recognise this country in terms of economic impact.”

Ardern also had a stern warning for any Kiwis with itchy feet planning a holiday abroad — don’t.

“Enjoy your own backyard,” Ardern told reporters yesterday.

Those leaving New Zealand for non-essential reasons could be forced to pay for their mandatory two-week quarantine upon returning — forking out thousands of dollars at the tail end of their getaway.

The Government was “moving quickly” on the issue and considering changing the law to ensure Kiwis heading overseas on holiday would have to pay for 14 days’ quarantine or managed isolation on their return, she said.

“One of the things we also need to make sure is that we’re essentially not setting up a test for New Zealanders based on how much money they’ve got in their bank account.

“We’d have to make sure we had hardship measures in there as well . . . that people can pay it back over a period of time, for example.”

Cabinet Minister Megan Woods, who has ministerial oversight of quarantine and managed isolation facilities, said the legal advice was not to put an “economic impediment” for Kiwis returning home.

To the end of June, the Government has estimated it would spend $81 million on moving 21,500 Kiwis through border facilities — at an average of $3800 per person.

Ardern said holiday-makers should face a full payment, rather than a co-payment.

It comes as the European Union opens its doors to 14 countries deemed “safe” to fly in from today, with New Zealand and Australia among those making the cut.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to advise against travel overseas.