Four COVID-19 cases in Melbourne – restrictions on those who visited locations of interest The Ministry of Health is actively monitoring the situation in Melbourne and remains in close contact with Australian health agencies.
However, there will be testing and isolation requirements on people who have been in locations of interest in Melbourne, including those who have travelled back to New Zealand in recent days.
The Ministry’s current assessment is that the public health risk is appropriately managed through the actions taken by Victorian health authorities.
In Australia, the 14-day travel restrictions for those who have visited locations of interest means they are ineligible to travel to New Zealand within 14 days from exposure – even with a negative COVID-19 test.
The four community cases identified today have not yet been linked to a previous case in Melbourne reported on 11 May though this remains under investigation.
Victorian health authorities will provide further details in coming days.
As an additional precaution, the Ministry recommends anyone in New Zealand who has visited Melbourne since 11 May should monitor for symptoms and if any develop seek advice on testing from Healthline.
Two locations of interest have been announced by health officials in Victoria and more sites are expected to be announced as Australian officials continue their contact tracing investigations.
Information about locations of interest visited by the four cases will be provided on the Victoria Health website.
Anyone in New Zealand who has been at any of the locations of interest at the specified times should contact Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice on self-isolation and testing as soon as possible.
Individuals in Australia who were at a location of interest at the specified times cannot travel for 14 days after being at the location of interest and should follow Victoria health advice regarding isolation and testing.
The Ministry will remain in close contact with its Australian counterparts as the situation evolves.
Anyone planning to travel to Victoria should take into account that advice from health authorities could change at any time and be prepared for their travel plans to be disrupted.
Confirmation of four linked cases of COVID-19 in Melbourne’s northern suburbs was announced today by Victorian Health. The Ministry is not recommending a pause on the Quarantine Free Travel arrangements with Victoria at this stage.
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The pause in New Zealand’s Quarantine Free Travel with Victoria will be extended until 7.59pm NZT on Friday 4 June. This is following today’s announcement in Melbourne of a growing number of cases, more exposure events and the high risk nature of some of these events.
Victoria has put in place a seven-day lockdown from 11.59pm tonight with local residents now required to stay home following confirmation of additional locally-acquired cases of COVID-19, increasing exposure sites and a large and growing number of close contacts.
The pause extension is based on the public health risk assessment to further protect New Zealanders. Our public health staff remain in close contact with Victorian authorities about the actions being taken in Melbourne.
Quarantine-Free Travel from Victoria to New Zealand (one-way) will be paused from 7.59pm NZT and be in place for 72 hours initially. As with previous pauses, it will be under constant review.
Five linked positive cases of COVID-19 in Melbourne’s northern suburbs have been confirmed by the Health Authority in Victoria.
New Zealand officials have assessed that the most cautious option is to pause the travel bubble with Victoria as there are still several unknowns with the outbreak.
QUARANTINE-FREE TRAVEL UPDATE
The Ministry of Health has confirmed that the public health risk to New Zealand remains low following further discussions with Victoria state health officials this evening.
At this stage, the Ministry’s recommendation is that Quarantine Free Travel between New Zealand and the state of Victoria can continue. No further community cases have been identified in Victoria.
Health officials in Victoria continue to undertake contact tracing relating to the case announced yesterday. All initial test results from contacts are negative.