Australia and New Zealand are both closing their borders to non-residents as they step up their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Australia’s travel ban on non-residents and non-citizens will be in place from 9pm local time this Friday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Thursday.
New Zealand’s measure comes into force at midnight tonight, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told a press conference in Wellington.
“At no time in New Zealand’s history has a power like this been used, and I recognize how extraordinary it is, but we have to make decisions in best interests of the health of those who live here,” Ardern said. “While there remains no evidence of community outbreak in New Zealand to date, there continues to be significant outbreaks in other countries, and that poses a very serious risk to the rest of the world, including to New Zealand.”
The government understands that the decision will have further impacts on New Zealand’s economy, she said.
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