New Zealand announced extension of a ban on cruise ships arriving in the country and tightened quarantine rules, after a small increase of COVID-19 cases were attributed to overseas travel.
The move came after reports of two new COVID-19 cases Monday, both in isolation after entering the country, taking the number of active cases to nine.
We are extending the current cruise ship ban which was due to expire on the 30th of June,
…Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a news conference, on Monday.
The country was among the world’s first to end all restrictions –exempting cruise ships– after declaring it had no active cases, but has seen a small number of new cases in recent days, Reuters reported.
Under the updated measures, cargo vessels will still be able to load and unload, fishing vessels to unload and resupply, and vessels come and undertake repairs, Ardern said. However, some quarantine rules would be stricter.
Last week, Ardern called in the military to oversee quarantine facilities, after two women with coronavirus moved around the country.
Therefore, Ardern further tightened border measures on Monday, saying people in quarantine may need to do multiple virus tests, and they must test negative for coronavirus before leaving the facilities.
New Zealand has recorded 22 COVID-19 deaths and 1,163 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in total.
