Two new Covid cases
Govt halts compassionate leave scheme
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says border checks meant to detect Covid-19 have been found wanting after two women tested positive. The test results have led to the suspension of exemptions on compassionate grounds for people in managed isolation.
An urgent review has started to find out why the women were allowed to leave their Auckland hotel room in the face of strict protocols.
One had mild symptoms after arriving in New Zealand, but it was put down to a pre-existing condition so the women were placed in managed isolation rather than quarantine.
Ardern acknowledged that the two women should not have been granted compassionate leave.
“Ultimately, after taking a look at what has happened here there is already an expectation that no one leaves quarantine until they have completed their two weeks [isolation] and have been tested,” she said.
“Of course that was our expectation already, so that is where there is a failure in this case.”
The women flew in from Britain on June 7, and were given leave on June 13 without having to test negative due to exceptional circumstances — the sudden death of their parent.
In another incident, two teenagers ran away from authorities after being allowed special dispensation from Covid quarantine to attend a funeral in Hamilton. One is now in managed isolation while the other is in an agreed community arrangement, director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said yesterday.
He did not know how many days their whereabouts was unknown.
Health Minister David Clark said compassionate exemptions would be put on hold until the Government had confidence in the system. “Compassionate exemptions should be rare and rigorous and it appears that this case [of the two sick women] did not include the checks that we expected to be happening.
“That’s not acceptable. Our border measures are a key line of defence against Covid-19 and we must ensure they are as robust as possible.”
Clark said Bloomfield would review the processes around the new cases, “noting that he has already made it a requirement that all individuals must return a negative Covid test before leaving managed isolation facilities from now on.”
The women were also not given the proper daily health checks in managed isolation, which may have led to their leave being declined.
“My understanding is the person who had the symptoms was asked, ‘Are you okay?”’ Bloomfield said.
“The protocol is to go through each individual symptom . . . It may well have been that that would have elicited specific symptoms that may have led to suspicion.”
The two women drove to Wellington on Saturday and were tested on Monday after one of them reported mild symptoms. Positive results were returned yesterday morning.
Bloomfield remained confident the women had not caused an outbreak as all their close contacts were being traced, and the women and the family member they visited in Wellington were in self-isolation.
National’s health spokesman, Michael Woodhouse, said that the cases raised serious questions.
“Compassionate leave to exit managed isolation can only be given after seven days and a negative test, according to guidance from the ministry dated June 9.
“The ministry simply failed to fulfil its own procedures.
“New Zealanders have done the hard yards over recent months. The Government can’t let this hard work go to waste due to sloppy lapses.”
Bloomfield said it was possible the women picked up the infection in Britain, at airports or on their flights.
The women, one in her 30s and one in her 40s, arrived in New Zealand together on June 7 on a flight from Britain via Doha and Brisbane.
They were permitted on compassionate grounds to leave managed isolation to travel to Wellington via private vehicle, which a relative dropped at their hotel, on June 13.
Bloomfield said they did not need to stop for petrol and did not use any public facilities, suggesting they relieved themselves on the roadside.
After one of the women felt symptoms, they were both tested at a Wellington community assessment centre on Monday, with positive results returning yesterday morning.
Health staff are now testing and isolating all others who may be at risk of exposure, including the one family member the pair met in Wellington.
Staff at Auckland’s Novotel Ellerslie, where the women had been staying, will be stood down and tested.
Footage of the pair at Auckland Airport was also being reviewed. Any staff at the border who are considered possible close contacts will also be stood down and tested.
Public health staff have been in contact with their counterparts in Australia to check on passengers on the same flights as the women.
Both women are now self-isolating at a family property near Wellington.
The women had been careful not to put anyone at risk, Bloomfield said.
“In this instance, the women did everything that was asked of them.”
The cases broke the streak of 24 days of no new cases in New Zealand.
Compassionate exemptions should be rare and rigorous . . . this case did not include the checks that we expected.
David Clark, Health Minister