New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern Announces Temporary Ban On Flyers From India Including Own Citizens

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has temporarily suspended entry for all travellers from India, including its own citizens reports Reuters.

It is the first time that New Zealand has extended any bar on entry to its own citizens and residents.

The suspension comes after New Zealand recorded 23 new positive Covid-19 cases at its border on Thursday, 8 April, of which 17 were from India.

The suspension applies to anyone who has been in India during the past 14 days.

"We are temporarily suspending entry into New Zealand for travellers from India," Reuters quoted PM Jacinda Ardern during a news conference in Auckland.

The suspension will be in place from 4 pm on 11 April and stay until 28 April.

"I want to emphasise that while arrivals of Covid from India has prompted this measure, we are looking at how we manage high risk points of departure generally. This is not a country specific risk assessment...," Ardern added.