The fast-growing coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne has driven the possibility of a trans-Tasman travel bubble well into the future, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
Ms Ardern was questioned about the developing situation in Melbourne this morning, as the Victoria was declared a state of disaster over the weekend.
Australia must have 28-days without any cases of community transmission before such travel is possible, the New Zealand Prime Minister said, suggesting it will be several months away.
LIVE UPDATES: Victoria now in state of disaster
It has been 93 days since New Zealand last saw a case of COVID-19 with no known source.
"Anywhere where we have COVID-free travel they have to be free of community transmission for a period of time – that will be some time for Australia," Ms Ardern said on The AM Show.
"It will be on the backburner for several months."
There were 671 new cases and 7 deaths in Victoria yesterday, with the government ramping up its lockdown response – Melbourne entering into stage four lockdown.
With a 5pm to 8am curfew imposed, and schools shut down, the lockdown is still not as strict as New Zealand's stage four imposed earlier this year.
Ms Ardern has not ruled out the possibility of opening up to Australia state by state, as many states are in a much better position than Victoria. However, this would need to be approved by the Australian national cabinet.
You can get up-to-date information from the Federal Government's Coronavirus Australia app, available on the App Store, Google Play and the Government's WhatsApp channel.
Beyond Blue's Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service is a 24/7 service free of charge to all Australians. Visit the site here [ Hyperlink to coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au] or call 1800512348
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This article first appeared on Stuff.co.nz and was reproduced with permission.
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