How to beef up the border
Here’s five ways to combat further coronavirus leaks
Public health experts have redoubled calls for a “benchmarking exercise” with Australia over Covid-19 and border management, after singling out more than a dozen New Zealand failures so far.
In a blog post published yesterday, a team of Otago University researchers argued New Zealand still didn’t have optimal control of its borders against Covid-19, and set out five ways to combat further leaks — including offering vaccinations to arriving travellers.
Their analysis found that, since last July, there had been 13 identified border failures, along with six failures that had occurred within managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
The largest resulted in the Auckland August cluster, involving 179 cases and three deaths — and was one of two failures that forced the city into lockdown on three occasions.
They cited official estimates that put the daily cost of Auckland lockdowns at up to $75 million in GDP, and the loss of 250 jobs.
Overall they said New Zealand had done “very well” with its pandemic response, which ranked among the world’s best.
While a vaccine roll-out that began with border workers was a welcome development, they said the “green zone” of quarantine-free travel New Zealand was about to form with Australia would bring more challenges.
“This green zone means that our biosecurity status will become more intertwined with Australia,” they said.
“Therefore, it is even more important to lower the risk of border failures that could disrupt green zone travel, especially if outbreaks are not initially well contained.
“This situation gives us the opportunity to benchmark our current measures with those used by the eight states and territories in Australia.”
Among five steps they recommended was slashing the number of infected travellers arriving into MIQ facilities — something that would mean accepting fewer arrivals from “red zone” countries like the United States, the United Kingdom and India — and extra measures like predeparture testing.
All returnees could also be offered vaccinations on arrival. “Even though this will offer only partial immunity while in MIQ, this measure might still be worthwhile.”
They again made a case for using MIQ facilities only in large cities for the lowest-risk travellers — such as those from Australia until the bubble opened — and exploring purposebuilt facilities away from urban centres.
As well, they said all shared MIQ areas, like those used for exercise and smoking, be eliminated, with a requirement for returnees to stay in their rooms, as happened in Australia.
“There should be practical support for returnees who wish to exercise in their rooms, and smokers should be offered nicotine replacement therapy and other smoking cessation treatments and support.”
Finally, they called for mandating daily PCR-based testing of saliva for MIQ workers. “This option could also be explored for travellers in MIQ in addition to the current testing regimen to allow for comparative assessment.”
The researchers suggested New Zealand should aim to have a “failure rate” that compared to Australia. “As of March 29, New Zealand’s MIQ system has a seven-day rolling average of four new positive cases per day — indicating that the risk of transmission within MIQ may still be substantial.”
Conducting a “benchmarking exercise” of MIQ and border management in Australia “could identify improvements in policies and practices in both countries”.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — who is set to announce a start date for the bubble next week — said arrangements with Australia were still being worked through.