New Zealand Bans Entry Of Foreigners From China's Territory

Corona virus prevention mask. (Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

JAKARTA - The New Zealand government announced on Sunday that it would bar entry to anyone with any nationality departing from Chinese territory due to the threat of the spread of the coronavirus.

The ban takes effect Monday 3 February tomorrow, and is effective for a period of 14 days with a review every 48 hours, for all foreign visitors departing from China or simply transiting there.

The imposition of the ban coincided with a travel appeal from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their citizens, at the highest level, not to go to China.

"We have been advised by health workers to take a precautionary approach, while there are still doubts about how the coronavirus is transmitted," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in a written statement.

However, New Zealand citizens and their family members can still enter the country, but will be required to self-isolate for 14 days after their arrival.

So far there has been no confirmed case of the corona virus in New Zealand. The decision follows a similar decision announced by the Australian government on Saturday 1 February, after there were 12 cases of coronavirus patients there.

The suspension of direct flights to China was carried out by Australian airline Qantas Airways and New Zealand airline Air New Zealand.

Australia also announced it would carry out the evacuation of its nationals in Wuhan, in a joint operation with New Zealand.

The move has been criticized by health workers because the Australian government plans to place evacuated residents on Christmas Island, a small island about 1,500 kilometers from Australia, which is also used as a shelter for foreign refugees from 2002 to 2018.

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said he hoped Australian citizens would be evacuated as soon as possible from Wuhan, with medical teams and mobile medical devices on standby.

"The officers are ready at their posts to receive the people arriving from Wuhan, and we estimate the flights will be carried out within the next 24 hours," said Hunt.