Overview
After more than two weeks without any new COVID-19 cases, and the final active case now recovered, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced that New Zealand will transition to the lowest possible alert level from midnight Monday, 8 June.
All current rules and social distancing restrictions will essentially be lifted. The move means that gatherings of any size are allowed to take place, restaurants and bars can operate as usual without seating limitations, and large public spaces including retail outlets and cinemas won't be required to count heads. Alert Level 1 also sees everyone being able to return without restriction to work, school, sports and domestic travel.
Stringent border controls remain for those entering New Zealand, including health screening and testing for all arrivals, and mandatory 14-day managed quarantine or isolation. Which, sadly for Australians, means the trans-Tasman travel isn't quite on the cards — yet.
First floated back in back in late-April, the 'travel bubble' was flagged as a potential in step three of Australia's COVID-recovery road map, which could come into place as early as July. Last week, though, when asked about opening NZ to Australian tourists, Ardern said told 7 News reporters: "We're on a great track. Australia is still dealing with cases, so just a little bit more progress is required...It's fair to say we are all eager, but we're eager to do it safely."
Australia currently has 455 active cases out of a total 7260.
While travel to NZ may still be off the cards for now, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee — which advises the government on decisions during health emergencies, such as pandemics — is meeting today to discuss "stage three and beyond" of the road map, so it's possible we could find out about other eased restrictions relatively soon.
For more information about the status of COVID-19 in Australia, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.