Australia PM threatens to permit travel to New Zealand before inter-state flying

Australia's prime minister said Tuesday that international travel could resume with New Zealand before Australians are allowed to fly interstate, if state leaders refuse to reopen their borders because of the new coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said from the capital of Canberra that he spoke to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about resuming regular travel between the neighboring countries, and such discussions will continue.

Every Australian state except those worst-effected by the virus, the most populous states of New South Wales and Victoria, have closed borders to slow the coronavirus spread. Morrison said "it may well be" that residents of the New South Wales capital Sydney could fly to New Zealand before they could fly to Perth or the Gold Coast, a Queensland state tourist destination.

Morrison added that Australia's international borders will not be opening up any time soon. Tensions are rising between federal and state leaders around the country over differing approaches to lifting pandemic restrictions. Australia and New Zealand have shared similar success in slowing the coronavirus spread.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. But the virus is highly contagious and can be spread by those with mild or no visible symptoms. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and could lead to death.