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The country's government has announced that from midday today, 12 March, the city of Auckland will join the rest of the country at COVID-19 alert level 'one'.

The country's foreign ministry announced today, 11 March, that France will ease some COVID-19 restrictions on international travel outside of Europe; passengers arriving to or from Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Israel, Japan, Britain and Singapore will no longer need a compelling reason to travel. All other restrictions, such as a requirement for a negative COVID-19 test result obtained no more than 72 hours before travel, will remain in place. An official decree with further, confirmed information is due to be published on 12 March.

The airline has announced that it has extended its COVID-19 global wellness insurance cover until 1 October 2021; the cover is included with every Etihad ticket, providing protection for the first 31 days of a passenger’s trip.

The hotel brand has announced that from this month, event planner partners who book or have booked an event at any U.S. property will gain access to the 'EventReady Playbook' - a manual including a list of third party partners that can provide a variety of COVID-19 testing and health screening options; among other options this will include same day, on-site COVID-19 testing.

The country's government has announced an upcoming relaxation of COVID-19 alert levels in New Zealand from 7 March, following five days with no new community transmission of the virus. From 06.00 (local time) on 7 March, Auckland will move from alert level 'three' to 'two', and the rest of the country will move from alert level 'two' to 'one'.

The country's government has confirmed that Australia's 'human biosecurity emergency period' will now be in place until 17 June 2021, giving them the powers to take any necessary measures to continue to prevent and control COVID-19. This represents a three month extension, which will total 15 months since the ban was first imposed in March last year. Powers currently in place under this initiative include restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels, restrictions on outbound international travel, pre-departure testing and mask-wearing for international flights. "These restrictions can be amended or repealed if no longer needed," Hunt noted, adding that in particular the Government was continuing to work with state and territory agencies, national health committees and the cruise industry "to develop a framework for the staged resumption of cruise ships in a manner that is proportionate to the public health risk".

The country's government has announced from 06.00 (local time) on 28 February, Auckland will be upgraded once again to COVID-19 alert level 'three' for a period of at least seven days; the remainder of the country will also move to alert level 'two'. The changes have been announced following the discovery of new community cases of COVID-19 in South Auckland.

The airline and its low-cost partner airline Jetstar have announced they will restart regular international passenger flights to most destinations from 31 October 2021. The airlines had previously anticipated flying internationally by July 2021, but this has been pushed back to allow Australia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout to be completed.

The government of the Australian state of Queensland has announced that it will suspend quarantine-free entry to arriving passengers from New Zealand, effective as of 18.00 (local time) on 24 February; passengers who arrive after 18.00 will be required to complete 14 days of quarantine. The announcement is in response to escalating COVID-19 cases in New Zealand.

The country's government announced that from 21 February it has lifted a suspension on quarantine-free flights from Australia; however, new COVID-19 testing requirements are in place for passengers who have been in Auckland 14 days prior to travel.

The country's government has announced that from today, 22 February, the city of Auckland's COVID-19 alert level has been reduced to 'one', the lowest classification, at which the rest of the country also currently sits. At level 'one', face masks must be worn on public transport and domestic flights.

The government of New Zealand has announced a decision to extend a current 72 hour suspension of quarantine-free flights to Australia, for a further 72 hours from 00.01 (local time) on 17 February; this measure follows the seperate decision to downgrade the COVID-19 alert level status of Auckland from 'three' to 'two' and the rest of the country from 'two' to 'one', at the of a national three day 'lockdown'.

The country's government has announced that from 23.59 (local time) this evening, 17 February, the city of Auckland will enter alert level 'two' and the rest of New Zealand will enter alert level 'one'; this follows a three day 'lockdown' at alert level 'three' in Auckland, with the rest of the country at alert level 'two'. These alert levels will be reviewed by the government on Monday 22 February.

The country's government has announced that from 23.59 (local time) this evening, 14 February, New Zealand will enter a three day COVID-19 'lockdown' in response to the discovery of three cases of the virus within the community in Auckland; the city will move to the country's alert level 'three', and the rest of the country will move to alert level 'two' for an expected period of three days until 23.59 (local time) on 17 February.

The governments of a number of states and territories in Australia have announced further border restrictions for travellers from the state of Victoria following a recent COVID-19 outbreak; among them, the state of Queensland will now close its border to arrivals from Victoria for 14 days from 01.00 (local time) on 13 February. In addition, the Northern Territory (NT) has declared the Victorian area of Greater Melbourne a COVID-19 hotspot, with any travellers from the area arriving in the NT to be directed into 14 days of mandatory supervised quarantine. Western Australia (WA) will also impose a 72-hour 'hard' border closure with Victoria starting at 18.00 (local time) on 12 February, and Tasmania will declare Victoria 'high risk' state, with travellers from Victoria to be required to isolate for 14 days. Australian Capital Territory (ACT) residents in Victoria are asked to remain and participate in the five day lockdown, and any ACT residents returning home after 00.01 (local time) on 13 February will be required to self-quarantine until 17 February. Anyone in New South Wales (NSW) who has been in Victoria at any time on or after 29 January is directed to follow 'stay at home' rules from midnight tonight, 12 February, until 23.59 (local time) on 17 February.

The government of the Australian state of Victoria have announced the introduction of a five day COVID-19 'lockdown' from 23.59 (local time) on 12 February until 23.59 (local time) on 17 February; the measure has been announced in response to a COVID-19 outbreak in a quarantine hotel. There will only be four reasons that people in the state can leave their homes: essential supplies, care and caregiving, exercise and essential work. Exercise and shopping will be limited to within a 5km radius from home, face masks will need to be worn indoors and outdoors, and no visitors are to be permitted to homes. Travellers can check Victoria's COVID-19 portal for a full list of restrictions.

The governments of the Australian states of South Australia (SA) and Queensland have announced a tightening of COVID-19 restrictions following an outbreak of the virus at a Melbourne quarantine hotel, People who have been in the Greater Melbourne area of the state of Victoria on or after 4 February, are not permitted to enter SA unless they are essential travellers, escaping domestic violence, returning residents or relocating to the state. Travellers entering SA by air from a low community transmission zone are permitted to transit through Melbourne Airport, provided they are there for no longer than two hours and wear a face mask for the time they are in transit, including while on the aircraft. From 01.00 (local time) on 13 February, anyone entering Queensland who has been anywhere in Victoria on or since 5 February, 2021, must also apply for a border pass beforehand.

The government of the state of South Australia (SA)has announced it will close its border to residents of the Greater Melbourne area, within the state of Victoria, as of midnight on 10 February. This decision comes after two confirmed cases of COVID-19 were linked to a Melbourne hotel; residents of regional areas in the state of Victoria are so far unaffected by the measure.

A number of state governments in Australia have announced updated border restrictions in response to the unfolding situation with COVID-19 cases in the state of Victoria. South Australia (SA) has confirmed its border with Victoria will remain open; there will, however, be greater requirements for testing for those entering SA from the Greater Melbourne area. New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland (QLD) have not declared Victoria a COVID-19 'hotspot' so far, however, both states have introduced testing requirements for arrivals from Victoria's exposure sites.

The government of the Australian state of Victoria has announced that it has re-introduced a mandate on face masks, in addition to increasing the cap on visitors in homes and pausing an increase on the number of people allowed in offices; the updated measures follow the news of a hotel quarantine worker contracting COVID-19 within the state. From 23.59 (local time) on 3 February, private gatherings have been limited to 15 people and masks are mandatory in indoor settings.