Catchup for China travellers

Health officials think they can track down the estimated 4000 people who have not registered with the new coronavirus healthline by today.

More than 2000 people are registered as being in selfimposed quarantine.

Christchurch university student Jesse Northcoat, who came back to New Zealand from Beijing on February 3, said there was not much screening at Auckland Airport. He said there were no extra questions or checks – very different from the mandatory temperature testing in mainland China and Hong Kong.

‘‘The e-gates were still going which was really surprising because there was a huge sign in blue that said all travellers ... are now required to be individually and manually processed – even New Zealand citizens.’’

Northcoat said he had not registered because when he first called, the system was not set up – and, so far, no-one had contacted him. Still, he chose to quarantine himself. He had originally booked to travel via Australia but had to transit through Hong Kong because of the restrictions in Australia. ‘‘I think countries should have abided by the World Health Organisation guidelines, where they don’t shut off their borders to all foreign nationals.

‘‘That, of course, stopped me going into Australia, made things really hard and put me more in danger by having to stay in China longer,’’ Northcoat said.

Auckland man Thomas Wang flew back to New Zealand on February 4 from Tianjin in northern China. He received more attention at Auckland Airport.

‘‘The officer just asked me simple questions, such as where did I go, what did I do.’’

Wang said health staff at the airport asked him to stay in quarantine for 14 days and he registered with Healthline. But he said it had not been pleasant as he did not have family in New Zealand and relied on friends to drop off food and other necessities.

‘‘Because they just asked me to stay at home and do self-isolation, no-one cared how I can do shopping, how I can get food. No-one ... asked anything and there is nothing from the Government to support us at all.’’

Christchurch woman Miriam Dixon and husband Michael have been in isolation since they arrived from Tianjin on February 5. Dixon said staff at Healthline checked whether they needed help with food and extra support.

Border officials have manually processed 6369 passengers from China since February 3.

On Wednesday, health officials estimated it would take 48 hours to contact people who have not registered since arriving from China.

‘‘... there is nothing from the Government to support us at all.’’

Thomas Wang

Auckland man under quarantine