New Zealand Gets Strict After Military Takes Reinforces Quarantine Protocols
MILITARY TAKES OVER NEW ZEALAND – Following reports of two new coronavirus cases, New Zealand’s Prime Minister assigned a top military leader to take over the country’s quarantine protocols.
Two women from London were released from quarantine before they were tested for the virus. However, when they were tested, they were found positive for COVID-19. In lieu of this, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the incident was an “unacceptable failure of the system”. Furthermore, she added that the incident should never happen and cannot be repeated.
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The two arrivals, both residents of New Zealand, came to the country to visit a dying relative. Because of this, they were given an exemption to leave the mandatory 14-day quarantine due to compassion. But, when they traveled via a private car from the quarantine hotel to Wellington, they tested positive for the virus.
Because of this, health officials are now in a race to trace the 320 “close contacts” of the two women. Along with this, they also needed to trace back the passengers from their flights from the UK as well as other travelers, hotel staff, and flight crew. According to a report from the Independent, the two women are now isolating with a relative.
Previously, New Zealand was the first country to report zero new coronavirus cases in more than three weeks. Moreover, the country’s Prime Minister emphasized that the two new cases had yet to affect the country’s COVID-free status.
Meanwhile, Air Commodore Darryn “Digby” Webb, the military official in charge of the quarantine protocols would have an audit system and written protocols. Additionally, he said he would ensure the protocols would be enforced with the help of military resources if deemed necessary.
Finally, Ardern said, “There is no room for error, even if it is a human error“. “It is totally unacceptable that the procedures we were advised were in place were not. Our job is now to fix that”, she added.
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