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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National

New Zealand travellers in ACT must quarantine amid Auckland outbreak

Travellers from Auckland to the ACT must quarantine. Picture: Shutterstock.

People entering the ACT from Auckland will be required to quarantine following a COVID-19 outbreak in New Zealand.

Travellers who are already in the ACT and have been in Auckland since February 20 must also get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until they receive a negative result.

ACT Health said anyone entering the ACT from New Zealand who has been in Auckland in the 14 days prior must quarantine. If a person has visited an identified area of interest in New Zealand they must also quarantine for the full 14 days since they were there.

The new public health directions do not apply to anyone who transited through Auckland Airport.

ACT Health said it would contact anyone in Canberra who recently arrived from New Zealand.

"However, individuals should not wait to get tested for COVID-19 and isolate. They can also contact ACT Health via the COVID-19 Helpline on (02) 6207 7244," a statement read.

"Travellers from New Zealand should check the New Zealand Ministry of Health website to keep up to date with any new exposure sites.

"They should also continue monitoring themselves very closely for symptoms of COVID-19 and get re-tested if they develop any symptoms, no matter how mild."

NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania have all limited quarantine-free travel with New Zealand as a cluster of COVID-19 cases grows.

NSW Health announced on Thursday anyone who had been in Auckland, including the airport, must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days.

"Alternatively, they may choose to depart Australia," NSW Health said in a statement.

Three new cases of COVID-19 were detected in Auckland on Thursday. There are currently 11 cases under investigation.

ACT Health has administered 524 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to date, however this number does not include the number of aged and disability care residents as this part of the rollout is managed by the federal government.

More than 170,300 tests have been conducted including 566 in the past 24 hours.

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