{"id":7706,"date":"2021-01-13T20:42:18","date_gmt":"2021-01-13T20:42:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiofree.org\/?p=149768"},"modified":"2021-01-13T20:42:18","modified_gmt":"2021-01-13T20:42:18","slug":"with-covid-19-mutating-and-surging-nz-urgently-needs-to-tighten-border-controls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/01\/13\/with-covid-19-mutating-and-surging-nz-urgently-needs-to-tighten-border-controls\/","title":{"rendered":"With covid-19 mutating and surging, NZ urgently needs to tighten border controls"},"content":{"rendered":"
ANALYSIS:<\/strong> By Nick Wilson<\/a>, University of Otago<\/a> and Michael Baker<\/a>, University of Otago<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The global covid-19 pandemic is intensifying, with more infectious variants<\/a> of the virus, and more rapid spread, especially in countries such as the US and UK.<\/p>\n This deterioration has meant a higher number of infected returnees arriving at New Zealand\u2019s MIQ facilities \u2014 with 31 new cases in a recent three-day period<\/a>.<\/p>\n This situation is a particular concern given we know hotels used as managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities are not designed for infection control due to problems with shared spaces and ventilation.<\/p>\n Indeed, there have been eight border failures identified since early August, 2020, with seven probably associated with failures at MIQ facilities<\/a>. There have also been many rule breaches<\/a> in these facilities.<\/p>\n The Simpson and Roche review<\/a> of the testing and surveillance regime also highlights multiple problems with the national response, although action is underway to address some of these deficiencies and extra funding<\/a> is being allocated.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, nursing staff at MIQ facilities recently reported persisting concerns with staff shortages<\/a>.<\/p>\n Recent covid-19 outbreaks<\/a> and near-misses<\/a> in Australia remind us that community spread is a real possibility<\/a> and could threaten the huge gains from New Zealand\u2019s successful implementation of an elimination strategy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Reduce numbers of infected arrivals<\/strong> Systematic pre-travel testing requirements have been phased in by many countries and New Zealand has added a requirement for pre-travel PCR testing<\/a> from tomorrow – January 15<\/a>.<\/p>\n This process could be made more effective by using a combination of rapid antigen testing and a period of pre-travel quarantine prior to boarding flights (e.g. a five-day stay at an airport hotel combined with rapid antigen testing on arrival at the hotel and just before boarding the flight).<\/p>\n\n
\nThere are multiple ways New Zealand could greatly reduce the number of infected travellers arriving and entering MIQ facilities, particularly those with more infectious virus variants.<\/p>\n