Flights from Queensland will resume from 11:59pm on Monday, the Ministry of Health has announced, following a temporary suspension of quarantine-free travel as the state grappled with an outbreak of COVID-19.
In its regular update on Monday, the ministry confirmed the public health risk posed by Queensland is now considered to be low.
"Quarantine-free travel from Queensland to New Zealand can resume from 11:59pm (NZT) tonight," it said.
However, quarantine-free travel from New South Wales (NSW) remains paused as the state continues to see dramatic spikes in its case numbers. The COVID-ravaged community is battling an outbreak of the highly infectious Delta variant, with 112 new cases reported on Monday alone.
Managed return flights from Sydney will begin on Tuesday, the ministry said. All travellers on these flights will be required to complete 14 days in managed isolation on arrival.
"Because of this, travellers from NSW will not be required to return a negative pre-departure test before flying," the ministry added.
"Travellers who have been in NSW on or after 10:30pm on June 26 are not permitted to travel back to New Zealand from other parts of Australia. Travel histories will be checked at the airport before flying. Travellers from all other parts of Australia - who haven't been in NSW since June 26 - must have returned a negative pre-departure test to be allowed to enter New Zealand. All travellers must complete a travel declaration.
"Information about priorities for return flights from NSW and access to managed isolation facilities has been released this morning by United Against COVID-19. It can be found here."
One new case of COVID-19 has been reported in managed isolation facilities since the ministry's last update on Sunday. The new arrival landed in New Zealand on July 9 from the Netherlands via Singapore, and returned a positive result on the first day of their stay. They are quarantining in Auckland.
Two previously reported cases have now recovered, bringing the total number of active cases in New Zealand to 33.
Two cases previously reported on July 5 have now been classified as historical infections, meaning they were no longer infectious at the time of their test. Since January 1, 2021, 87 out of 596 cases have been deemed as historical.
To date, New Zealand has recorded a total of 2412 confirmed cases.
The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 2,353,967. On Sunday, 2962 tests were processed across New Zealand, with the seven-day rolling average sitting at 5482.
Update on the Viking Bay
The Viking Bay fishing ship has now docked at Queens Wharf in Wellington, the All of Government response has confirmed.
As it is now a quarantined vessel, perimeter fencing has been placed around the ship, with maritime security and police monitoring the wharf and the water. The public is asked to avoid the area and to respect the privacy of the crew.
A mobile health unit has been established, with the crew set to disembark for their swabs later on Monday.
Seven of the 20 crew will remain aboard to meet maritime safety requirements. The remaining 13 crew - which includes the two crew who last week tested positive for COVID-19 - will be transferred to a Wellington quarantine facility using Infection Prevention and Control protocol, including the use of appropriate PPE.
The risk assessment has been reviewed and this situation remains to be considered a low risk to public health.
Update on the Playa Zahara
The All of Government response has also confirmed the Spanish flagged shipping vessel, the Playa Zahara, has applied for permission for a change of crew at Port Taranaki.
There have been reports of a flu-like illness onboard, so health authorities will provide testing for crew members on the ship shortly after it berths on Tuesday.
The ship will then depart from the on-shore quarantine place of inspection and will remain off-shore until test results are available on Thursday.
If the results show there is no evidence of COVID-19 onboard, the vessel will be granted pratique for a crew change.
Health authorities have assessed this situation as having a low risk to public health.
