Italy travel restrictions upped to self-isolation
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced all travellers arriving in New Zealand from anywhere in Italy must selfisolate for 14 days.
She also urged New Zealanders living with underlying health conditions to re-consider taking an overseas cruise.
The extension to travel restrictions for people arriving from Northern Italy, to the entire country of Italy, came on the back of health and scientific advice about the ongoing situation in Italy, she said.
Ardern said anyone travelling to Italy should reconsider their plans or be confined if they chose to travel.
A total travel ban on Italy, such as that imposed by Australia was not needed, she said.
Unlike Australia, New Zealand had created the extra category of self isolation for 14 days and it was working.
‘‘That has effectively had the same affect as an entire border exclusion. It gives us a bit of flexibility to put in separate states and regions.’’
Travellers were checking out the places they intended to visit and ‘‘a dribble’’ of people were coming to New Zealand as a result of the self-isolation, she said.
Border exclusions had been imposed in China because the majority of cases originated there and continued to exist.
The exclusion for Iran followed the prolific spread and concerns around its health system, reporting of cases and border checks, she said.
The committee, which Ardern chairs, also discussed travel advice for those considering a cruise, which was in line with Australia, she said.
‘‘We are also undertaking some analysis of those remaining ships expected to travel into New
Zealand over the remainder of the cruise ship season . . . to get a better understanding of any risks that may exist for those ships intending to dock in New Zealand.’’
Meanwhile, more information about the business continuity package would be announced next week, she said.
She met yesterday with Business NZ and the CTU to touch bases on some of the proposals the Government was looking at.
The Covid-19 Cabinet Committee and top ministry officials meet on a Wednesday to discuss how New Zealand is tackling the issue. It comes as New Zealand enters a new phase of the coronavirus outbreak, with health officials focusing on slowing the spread of the virus, rather than eradicating it.
Ministry of Health directorgeneral of health Ashley Bloomfield said yesterday the Government would consider a range of measures to slow the virus’ spread.
‘‘Mass gathering and school closings could be employed now to maintain it [the spread] and slow it down,’’ he said.
Bloomfield said everyone needed to take steps to slow the spread of the virus.
‘‘All of use are probably guilty, at times, if we’ve got a bit of a runny nose, we go to work . . . This is a time when we have to be much, much more strict with ourselves.’’
For a fourth consecutive day, there were no additional cases confirmed in New Zealand, and one of the confirmed cases was discharged from hospital.