PM turns to military
As more than 300 close contacts linked to New Zealand’s two Covid-19 cases are ‘‘encouraged’’ to get tested, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is bringing in a military leader to oversee the country’s isolation and quarantine facilities.
Ardern addressed media yesterday, as the fallout from Tuesday’s revelations that two women were able to leave mandatory isolation six days into their stay on compassionate grounds continued to intensify.
The assistant chief of defence, Air Commodore Digby Webb, has now been called in to oversee border facilities, including how travellers leave them.
Webb will also have access to the country’s military logistics, operational expertise and – if needed – have the power to bring in military personnel to help run the facilities.
Ardern said Webb would also audit existing systems and written protocols to ensure they were being implemented and would make changes as needed.
‘‘Our borders, and the controls at our borders, must be rigorous,’’ Ardern said.
‘‘They must be disciplined, and they must have the confidence of
ministers and all of you – New Zealanders – who got us here.’’
Webb will be required to regularly report to government ministers.
The lapses in judgment that occurred in the women’s case ended New Zealand’s 24-day Covid-free streak, and have prompted the suspension of compassionate exemptions. Overseas arrivals are meant to be tested on
days three and 12 of their 14-day isolation period. However, this did not happen in this case.
Ardern categorised the incident as representing ‘‘an unacceptable failure of the system’’.
‘‘It should never have happened and it cannot be repeated,’’ she said.
‘‘There is no room for error, even if it is human error. It is totally unacceptable that procedures
we were advised were in place, were not.’’
The Government acknowledged that the suspension of compassionate leave would be difficult for some.
‘‘I know this will be upsetting to some New Zealanders seeking to return home to visit dying relatives and loved ones. However, the risk to our collective efforts to eliminate Covid is