MIQ worker sacked after ‘encounter’

AUCKLAND: A wine delivery, a note penned on the back of a facemask and a 20minute bedroom ‘‘encounter’’ have spelled the end of a managed isolation staff member’s job.

Covid19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins denied standards were slipping at the border facilities, where authorities were also investigating the transmission of Covid19 between Pullman Hotel guests.

The illicit rendezvous with a returnee happened at the Grand Millennium in central Auckland on January 7, and came to light at the Government’s Covid19 briefing yesterday.

Mr Hipkins said the worker entered a guest’s room to deliver a bottle of wine after exchanging notes, and stayed for 20 minutes.

‘‘I didn’t inquire into specifically the nature of the encounter, but there was a 20minute encounter. That was enough for me to know it was unacceptable,’’ he said.

While the encounter was not thought to have put others at risk, it was described as ‘‘irresponsible’’ and ‘‘incredibly disappointing’’ by the head of managed isolation and quarantine Brigadier Jim Bliss, who said the security measures at the hotel meant the incident was detected quickly.

Brig Bliss said the worker was immediately sent home and instructed to selfisolate and be tested, before being given a formal written warning by police.

Both the worker and the returnee had returned negative test results both before and after the incident.

‘‘We’re not aware of any other reports of situations like this between staff and returnees,’’ Brig Bliss said.

‘‘There is absolutely no room for complacency for those inside our managed isolation and quarantine facilities.’’

Mr Hipkins said the worker had been sanctioned, and he was also reassured it was a ‘‘oneoff’’. — RNZ