Ban on UK flights should

The Government should consider banning flights from the United Kingdom and other countries where Covid-19 is out of control, an epidemiologist says.

Almost a quarter of New Zealand’s active cases are now the UK variant, with that number expected to rise. Australia is tightening its managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) rules after the UK variant was found in its community.

Epidemiologist Nick Wilson told RNZ that New Zealand should do the same as the variant was far more contagious.

The professor of public health at the University of Otago said the Government should consider banning flights from some countries and look at fast-tracking vaccinations for border control workers.

‘‘The change in the virus has made it more infectious, the world is really grappling with it and we are seeing greater spread of Covid-19 in many countries,’’ Wilson said. ‘‘As a result, we are seeing more infected people at our border – this is a very serious situation.’’

He said 31 cases arriving over the last three days was a high number.

‘‘Given our system for controlling this disease is all at the border and it is nowhere near perfect, this could lead to an outbreak,’’ Wilson said.

‘‘We have had at least seven border failures in the last six months associated with MIQ facilities, including the large Auckland August outbreak.’’

The Government needed to take a careful look at what to do next, Wilson said. ‘‘It’s probably time the Government bans flights from the US and the UK until the situations in those countries improve. The risk is just too high.’’

From January 15, travellers from the UK and the United States will need a negative test result for Covid-19 before departing for New Zealand. It comes in addition to the day-one testing the Govern