This is the first time the travel bubble has been suspended since it was established in April.

New Zealand has suspended its travel bubble with Australia for at least eight weeks due to the spread of the highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Friday that the quarantine-free travel bubble between the countries will be suspended for the next eight weeks beginning Friday at 11:59 p.m.

This is the first time the travel bubble has been suspended since it was established in April.

Under the suspension, only New Zealand citizens or “those ordinarily resident” in the country will be able to enter New Zealand. For the next seven days, New Zealanders in Australia will be able to return home and the country will continue flights until demand is met for returning residents.