Bubble stays open despite trio of new cases in NSW

New Zealand’s travel bubble with New South Wales will remain open — despite three new community cases being reported in the Australian state yesterday.

The Ministry of Health’s director of public health, Dr Caroline McElnay, said Kiwi health officials met yesterday to assess the public health risk posed by the recent Covid-19 community cases in Sydney.

“It has been determined that, at this time, the risk to public health in New Zealand remains low,” she said.

Health authorities were reviewing the details of the three confirmed community cases in New South Wales and a fourth case that was under investigation.

Many locations of interest have been identified in the Australian state.

The Ministry of Health was also contacting people who had travelled from Sydney to New Zealand since June 11, advising them to check the locations of interest.

Anyone who developed symptoms should self-isolate and get tested.

People in Australia who had been in a location of interest at the specified time should follow state government advice for isolation and testing, and cannot travel to New Zealand within 14 days from when they were at the location of interest.

The decision comes after New Zealand health officials extended a travel pause with Victoria for five more days. The pause had been until 11.59pm yesterday, but now ends at 11.59pm on Tuesday.