National calling for testing of all associated with air travel

WELLINGTON: National is calling for all people in contact with airline travel, no matter the extent, to be included in the testing regime.

Covid19 Response spokesman Chris Bishop said yesterday there ‘‘seems to be a question whether the person at the centre of this outbreak should have been tested or not.

‘‘The suggestion last night was they should have been, then it has been clarifying that they were outside of the scope of the order today’’.

‘‘Our strong recommendation is that that order . . . be widened so that everyone, no matter if they have contact with international airlines or international travel, anyone working in and around the border, no matter which part of the company, they are tested.

‘‘Secondly, our strong recommendation is that the auditing and monitoring of the companies — private and government — working at the border be significantly tightened up.’’

National leader Judith Collins said it was ‘‘simply not acceptable for New Zealanders to be forced into lockdowns which we have to have, when we find out that not all border staff are being tested, that the auditing of who is being tested seems to be somewhat voluntary’’.

‘‘None of that is acceptable. These are opportunities for us to learn . . . and do better.’’

She also called for saliva testing to be compulsory at MIQs and for the people staying in the facilities.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern clarified yesterday that daily saliva testing was already in place in highrisk locations such as the Jet Park hotel, and may be introduced on a wide scale.