Australia's top health official has criticised New Zealand's decision to lift Covid-19 restrictions after seemingly eliminating the virus.
Australia's acting chief medical officer Paul Kelly said today New Zealand should not have returned to pre-pandemic life after going 102 days without community transmission.
He said despite New Zealand's initial lockdown being successful, a return to mass gatherings and lack of social distancing was problematic.
"That is just very dangerous," he told the Australian Senate's coronavirus inquiry today.
"To go right back to a pre-Covid state makes them extremely vulnerable."
Kelly said New Zealand's latest outbreak, which has spread to 30 people, showed why well-performing Australian states must remain vigilant.
"What has happened in New Zealand is a real demonstration of why we have to remain cautious," he said.
Auckland is currently in at alert level 3 lockdown and social distancing measures have been reimposed across other parts of the country.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will announce any changes to those measures at 5.30pm today.
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