Tight border control still essential despite the country achieving a virus- free status
There seems to be a perception that once we are COVID-19 free things should be back to normal.
We are not quite there yet. In fact we have maintained the strict protocols at Nadi International Airport for the international arrivals to the hotels they are quarantined at.
No one wants to be confined to a room for 14 days but it’s part of a necessary regime to ensure that we maintain our COVD-19 free status at the border and in community transmission.
A passenger on board the Air New Zealand Dreamliner aircraft on flight NZ952 from Auckland to Nadi on Saturday had asked why the quarantine when we are COVID-19 free here and NZ had just joined us.
Besides passengers were required to get a NZ$250 test and be medically certified in NZ by registered medical and health providers that they were COVID negative before they could board the flight.
Before we disembarked at Nadi a Fijian female voice came on intercom explaining the system in place and the need to comply with the hygiene rules because of COVID-19.
After disembarking passengers were temperature tested to see if they showed any symptoms of the virus before heading to Immigration.
It was obvious from there to the baggage claim area, Customs clearance and exit outside to the waiting buses that our frontline staff have not missed a beat.
They were meticulous in ensuring that no detail was overlooked. To clear more than 130 passengers it took about at least two hours as they made sure that every passenger on their arrival list was accounted for. Imagine if there were multiple flights arriving around the same time as we had pre- COVID-19.
There would be bottlenecks and holdups if the enforced quarantine is not lifted when the border is partly or fully reopened.
As long as visitors and returning residents are allowed to come, the risks are still there and this dilemma for the Government - open the border but still maintain checks or restore pre- COVID-19 level.
Sooner or later it has to make the hard decision . There were passengers on NZ 952 who flew from the United States and Australia, stayed overnight in Auckland before catching the Nadi flight.
One Fijian from Sydney was coming to visit her critically ill father in hospital but she has to wait for 14 days in quarantine. There is no exemption for her and she was thinking of putting in another request for a waiver. But the Government has been resolute and consistent in applying one law for everyone.
When a well known lawyer died recently some of his children overseas did not attend because of the quarantine rules.
It might have been longer than usual getting passengers processed at Nadi International Airport but it’s all for a good purpose.
The medical staff and others on the frontline were in full protective gear on Saturday. They were making a statement that we should not be complacent even if we are COVID-19 free. TOMORROW: Keeping your sanity a challenge in quarantine.