Coronavirus: New Zealand and Australia plan joint "bubble"

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New Zealand government chief Jacinda Ardern will attend a meeting of the Australian government by videoconference on Tuesday to discuss the creation of a common space between the two countries in which travel restrictions related to the Covid epidemic will be lifted. 19.

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At a time when the two countries are registering a clear decline in contamination, Jacinda Ardern accepted the invitation of her Australian counterpart Scott Morrison to participate on Tuesday in a virtual meeting of the national cabinet, which brings together the Australian federal authorities as well as those of the States of l huge island continent. "  This meeting will deal with various subjects related to the response to Covid-19 on both sides of the Tasman Sea, and in particular the creation of a trans-Tasman bubble for travel,  " said the Neo-Prime Minister. journalists to journalists, calling it "  unprecedented  ".

No quarantine for travelers from both countries

With a "  solid track record  " in the fight against the virus, the two states therefore want to create a common space. The idea of ​​this "  bubble  " would be that the two neighbors would no longer impose a quarantine of fourteen days on people arriving on the other side of the Tasman Sea.

►Read also: Australia: despite the coronavirus, Tasmania supports its foreign nationals

After five weeks of strict containment, New Zealand, which registered only 20 deaths and 1,137 cases of contamination, eased the measures last week. And therefore intends to take the next step: reviving the economy.

Management by the head of the New Zealand government has been praised several times since the start of the crisis. In mid-April, in a gesture of solidarity, she announced that she and her ministers were going to give up 20% of their salary.

Not for now

However, warned the head of the New Zealand government, "  don't expect it to take effect within 15 days  ." "  We must, " said Jacinda Ardern, "  make sure that we secure the gains that all New Zealanders have contributed to and make sure that all health precautions are in place for this to happen safely."  "

Certain regions of Australia also began this weekend to lift restrictions. The island has 6,800 cases and 96 deaths. Several Australian states have not had new cases for several days; New Zealand confirmed a new case on Monday.

(with AFP)

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