New Zealand has no more Covid-19 cases, but borders won't open for long

New Zealand no longer has any new cases of Covid-19, yet it will continue to keep its doors closed to the rest of the world for a long time to come.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said this after a video conference with the Australian cabinet on Tuesday. The meeting discussed the possibility of creating a safe travel zone between Australia and New Zealand, to allow the free movement of citizens, without quarantine. But visitors from other countries will not be able to enter the country for the foreseeable future, Ardern explained.

"We are discussing the possibility of creating a safe travel zone between us and Australia, so that citizens are not subject to quarantine. As for the rest of the world, we will not be opening the borders for a long time," said Jacinda Ardern.

Both Australia and New Zealand have closed their doors to almost all foreigners as part of their response to curb the pandemic. Tourism is one of New Zealand's largest industries, employing 10 percent of the country's workforce and contributing nearly 6 percent to gross domestic product.

Most of the visitors are from Australia, China, the US and the UK. On Tuesday, New Zealand reported no new cases for the second day in a row. Considered one of the countries with the most successful response to the pandemic, it has only 1500 cases and 20 deaths. Australia, with a population of 25 million, five times larger than New Zealand, has nearly 5 infected people and 7 deaths. This country has also successfully flattened the curve of infections and many territories have eased restrictions.