Australia has suspended quarantine-free travel for New Zealanders for at least 72 hours after confirmation yesterday New Zealand has a case of the South African variant of Covid-19.
A 56-year-old Northland woman - who returned to New Zealand from Europe just before the New Year - tested positive with the highly infectious variant nine days after leaving managed isolation.
The woman visited about 30 shops, restaurants and bars before her case was detected.
The Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt yesterday afternoon announced the suspension of the so-called 'green zone' travel from New Zealand - a one-way travel bubble - meaning travellers to Australia will have to quarantine for up to 14 days.
