New Zealand Extends Ban on Entry for Foreigners Visiting China... No Ban for South Korea and Others

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] New Zealand has decided to extend the entry ban on foreigners coming from China for 8 more days in relation to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) situation. It announced that it is not considering additional entry bans on countries such as South Korea, Italy, and Iran, where the recent spread continues.

According to major foreign media, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated at a press conference that the entry ban on foreigners coming from or transiting through China will be extended for 8 more days to protect its citizens.

However, she said that expanding the entry ban on foreigners to other countries such as South Korea is not being considered. When asked by reporters why the entry ban is not being extended to South Korea, Ardern replied, "This is a matter of scale, and the epicenter continues to be mainland China," adding, "We will continue to focus on the source of the infectious disease." She also pointed out that although no confirmed cases have occurred in New Zealand, the possibility of occurrence has increased.

New Zealand has been reviewing the necessity of this measure every 48 hours since announcing the entry ban on foreigners coming from China on the 2nd. Earlier, Air New Zealand announced that due to a sharp decline in demand caused by COVID-19, flights between Auckland and Seoul will be temporarily suspended until the end of June.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Grant Robertson, New Zealand's Minister of Finance, said that if economic damage caused by COVID-19 leads to difficulties for companies, the government will provide support, but at this point, such a situation is not expected to occur.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.