Military pledge isolation hotels pose no threat
‘Multiple layers of safety and protection throughout the system’
‘The system works. All the evidence we have shows Covid is not spreading within the isolation facilities and it’s certainly not spreading outside them.”
That was the assurance given to Rotorua Lakes Council in an update from the military about the safety of having isolation hotels in the city.
In two days the first group of returned Kiwis who have spent their 14-day isolation period in Rotorua will be released.
Lieutenant Colonel Chad Preece told the council’s Operations and Monitoring Committee yesterday the speed in which the isolation hotels were established in Rotorua had alarmed some people, but there was a commitment to keep everyone informed and reassure the public every precaution was being taken.
“The isolation facilities here were established very fast and with little warning. It was done safely but I understand the speed in which it happened was a shock to some people.
“I would like to thank you [council] and the community. After the initial shock, which was completely understandable, the community has already begun to work around the isolation facilities and provide support, which has been humbling to see.”
Preece spoke about the manaakitanga from local businesses and individuals who had been donating items to help the time go faster for those in isolation.
He said from a military perspective, their priority was to “make sure Covid does not get out into the community”.
“People need to be kept safe.
“The second priority is to make sure people feel safe and that is equally important for people’s mental health and wellbeing.”
Preece went on to outline the isolation system so the public would understand how robust it was.
“As people get off the aircraft, there is an initial health check. If they don’t pass that health check, they and their bubble are all off to the quarantine facility.
“The health checks continue throughout the 14-day stay and again, if somebody does not pass that health check, they are isolated in their room until they are able to be moved to a quarantine facility.”
He reiterated there was testing on day three and day 12 and nobody could leave until a negative test is returned on day 12.
“There is an exit health check as well as confirmation of the test data before they can be released from isolation. The sites are fenced off and are staffed 24/7 with NZ Defence Force, aviation security and health staff supplemented in some sites with private security.”
Preece said the system had been in place for 14 weeks and more than 15,000 people had been released into the community Covid-free.
“The system works. There has been transmission within bubbles as you would expect and that’s why the whole bubble gets moved to the quarantine facility, even if only one returns a positive test,” he said.
“All the evidence we have shows [Covid is] not even spreading within the isolation facilities and it’s certainly not spreading outside them.
“Most importantly, not one staff member in 14 weeks has been infected. The protocols work, the social distancing works, good hygiene, hotel cleaning — which is done to a clinical standard — all of these things mean there are multiple layers of safety and protection throughout the system.”