WELLINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country's borders will be closed to any visitors except citizens and residents from 11:59 p.m. Thursday due to COVID-19 concerns.

The total number of COVID-19 cases climbed to 28 on Thursday in New Zealand.

There was no evidence of community transmission in New Zealand, and all confirmed 28 cases in the country are related to overseas travel, she said, adding the border closure was due to the significant global outbreak.

"We need to continue to make further decisions and further restrictions," she added.

New Zealand citizens and permanent residents will be able to return, and that includes their children and partners, according to the prime minister.

On Thursday, eight new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, bringing the total number to 28.

The eight cases confirmed on Wednesday were all related to overseas travel. That's an important point as it shows there is no evidence of community transmission in New Zealand, said a statement of the Ministry of Health.

Public health staff are investigating the travel history of the cases so as to identify all close contacts and isolate them, it added.

Of the eight new cases, one is in hospital, and others are at home and self-isolating.

"While it's important to be alert to the increasing numbers of cases, we are expecting more, given the rapidly evolving situation overseas. We will continue to identify, test and isolate to ensure we can stamp COVID-19 out and slow it down," said the ministry's Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield.