New Zealand's strict new COVID-19 health measures to be put in place at the border for people departing to the Pacific include:

• No travel for people who have travelled outside of New Zealand in the past 14 days,
• No travel for close or casual contacts of a confirmed case.
• No travel for anyone who is symptomatic
• Health assessment including temperature check

In major steps taken to protect New Zealanders from COVID-19 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today that every person entering New Zealand from anywhere in the world will be required to self-isolate for 14 days, excluding the Pacific.

“As of midnight Sunday every person entering New Zealand, including returning New Zealand citizens and residents, will be required to enter self-isolation for 14 days. Everybody,” she said.

“The Pacific are exempted from this measure, though anyone from these countries will be required to automatically self–isolate should they exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms upon arrival in New Zealand.”

The Pacific is defined as the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu & Wallis and Futuna.

“We are also stepping up our actions at the border as a key departure route to the Pacific. New Zealand has a huge sense of responsibility to support our Pacific neighbours.”

New Zealand is already registering all travellers into New Zealand, and Healthline is monitoring the self-isolation process.

The restrictions will be reviewed in 16 days' time.

Meanwhile, an existing travel ban is retained for China and Iran, Cruise ships banned from coming to New Zealand, until at least 30 June 2020

After a full Cabinet met this afternoon, Ardern stated that the significant decisions were taken to further protect the health of New Zealanders and reduce the threat of transmission of COVID-19 in New Zealand.

A range of measures to assist those in self-isolation to be announced next week, as well as a directive on mass gatherings.

Strategy

New Zealand has to date, relative to other countries, a small number of cases. While New Zealand realistically expects more cases to eventuate, Ardern said the strategy which had guided the decision-making was to spread the cases and flatten the curve.

“The scale of how many cases we get and how fast we get them is something we should do as much as we can to slow. That is how we ensure health services are there for those who need them most. That’s why we must go hard, and go early, and do everything we can to protect New Zealanders health.

“We must plan and prepare for more cases”.

Alongside Israel, and a small number of Pacific Islands who have effectively closed their border, this decision will mean New Zealand will have the widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world.

“They do not apply to cargo ships or cargo planes or to marine or air crew, and we will be working to ensure we keep sea and air freight routes open for imports and exports.

“We are mindful that some items that come into New Zealand travel via passenger flights. That’s why support, where needed, will be provided to ensure that essential air freight like pharmaceuticals continue to be shipped into New Zealand.

“We did not take these decisions lightly. We know these travel restrictions will place significant strain on the aviation industry, and we anticipate some routes will reduce or cease for a period of time,” PM Ardern said.