Getty Images
A person gets a Covid-19 test. Those checks have found more than 50 people arriving in the country without a valid test since last Tuesday. These people are given a choice between either flying home to Australia or going into managed isolation – except for Queenstown where there is no managed isolation hotel. More than 10 people who have travelled to Queenstown for skiing holidays in recent days without a valid test have opted to fly back to Australia. Five people have been transferred from the resort town’s airport to Christchurch managed isolation hotels on self-contained buses driven by people trained in infection prevention.
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is further strengthening the border against COVID-19 by making it mandatory for more of the workforce to be vaccinated, COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins announced today.
“To prevent the virus getting into our communities, we must continue to strengthen our border by protecting the people who work there,” Chris Hipkins said.
The new COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Amendment Order 2021 comes into effect at 11:59pm on 14 July 2021.
“As well as workers at Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facilities, workers at our ports and airports who are at the greatest risk of exposure to COVID-19 must now be vaccinated,” Chris Hipkins said.
ROSA WOODS
On Sunday afternoon, workers could be seen putting up a fence at Queen’s Wharf ahead of the arrival tomorrow of the Viking Bay. The ship’s return to New Zealand had been assessed as having a “very low health risk to the public”. All 20 crew members would undergo a comprehensive health check, including testing, on arrival. “Most of them will then be transported securely to a Managed Isolation and Quarantine facility to complete at least 14 days in managed isolation,” the statement said. The ship was barred from berthing at Port Taranaki last week, and there were some talk of it heading to Auckland.
Customs group manager maritime Stephen Waugh says the process will carry very low public health risk. The crew will be transported at a time that will minimise the risk of coming into contact with members of the public, he says. Customs will maintain presence at the port throughout the operation, with the support of additional security personnel, and the Police Maritime Unit maintaining watch over the water.
Perimeter fencing will cordon off the area where the Viking Bay will dock to remove public access, with the authorities stepping up security at the wharf and on-water patrols.
All Government and CentrePort staff that interact with the vessel or crew are vaccinated, and will work in line with health and safety protocols including IPC and PPE requirements.
Arrangements in place for fishing vessel Viking Bay to dock in Wellington miragenews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from miragenews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.