Iwi pandemic response call to tighten up

THE National Iwi Pandemic Response Group has called for the number of New Zealanders returning home to be restricted to 1500 a week, about half the current number of returnees.

A total of 5483 New Zealanders were due to return home in the next two weeks.

National Iwi Pandemic Response Group principal adviser Dr Rawiri Taonui said it was no longer sustainable to allow this number of arrivals into the country.

The Northland case and the two cases in Auckland were the 11th outbreaks and all New Zealand outbreaks had occurred when the average number of returnees per week was over 2000, when active cases in MIQ rose to 6075, Dr Taonui said.

‘‘That creates more pressure on the MIQ system and greater risk of transfer into the community.’’

There had been no breaches when the average number of returnees had been 2000 or lower, and the response group chose a lower number to take account of the more infectious strains from the UK and South Africa.

The contrast between New Zealand and Queensland — which had similar populations — was stark, Dr Taonui said. Queensland, which restricted returnees to 500 a week, has only 16 active cases in managed isolation.

The response group criticised predeparture testing introduced on January 16, which it said failed because passengers were not providing proof of a negative test.

Seventy passengers had arrived in New Zealand from the US and Britain without providing proof of a negative test, since January 16, and 17 tested positive in MIQ.

Dr Taonui said he wanted all arrivals to be tested immediately when they landed. — RNZ