China arrivals to be checked

Public health staff will begin meeting flights from China from today as the coronavirus threat grows.

The move comes after criticism from National Party health spokesman Michael Woodhouse, who said the Government wasn’t doing enough at Auckland International Airport.

‘‘Events and the virus itself are moving much faster than the New Zealand Government is,’’ he said yesterday afternoon.

‘‘We now have the direct involvement of Chinese President Xi Jinping and a number of countries taking proactive steps to manage the risk of the virus in their countries.’’

Shortly after, Health Minister David Clark announced that staff would begin to actively look for the signs of the novel coronavirus and provide advice, information and reassurance to passengers.

The decision followed the arrival of the disease in Australia, via flights direct from the city of Wuhan, Clark said.

‘‘Health officials began preparations for placing staff at our major airports last week, and we will have that in place for all flights from China tomorrow.’’

The risk of an outbreak in New Zealand remained low, but

the health response at the border was being strengthened as a precaution.

A Ministry of Health Incident Control Team was working closely with international partners, he said.

Woodhouse said yesterday he was concerned about the Government’s lack of action to date.

‘‘A passenger on a flight from

China last night reported to me that nearly every single passenger on board that flight was wearing a mask.

‘‘When they arrived in Auckland

expecting to be screened and have information provided to them, there was none.’’

It was not too late to take steps to manage the risk, he said.

But Clark said the Ministry of Health had been actively responding to the threat since January 6.

Tomorrow he would take a paper to Cabinet, which would make the coronavirus a notifiable disease.

The first flight from mainland China to be met by public health staff will be in Auckland at 6.30am today.

Both Auckland and Christchurch International Airports will have a public health nurse available to take the temperatures of incoming passengers from flights from China who feel unwell.

If their temperature is over 38 degrees Celsius, they will be offered further advice and assessment.

DHBs have also developed a handout and information post to display at the airport and circulate to passengers.