Housing Minister Megan Woods to oversee Covid-19 quarantine after bungle

It comes as the Government grapples to manage the nation’s new active cases.

Housing Minister Megan Woods is set to oversee Covid-19 isolation facilities as the Government tries to get a handle on mounting problems.

It comes after two people that travelled from the UK were allowed to leave isolation facilities early and travel to Wellington from Auckland, and later tested positive for Covid-19.

Earlier this week Air Commodore Darren Webb was also called in to help.

In a press conference this afternoon with Mr Webb, Ms Woods said she there will be "robust systems" in place to manage the isolation and quarantining of New Zealanders returning from overseas.

However, she recognised there would always be people who broke the rules. She said the past week showed existing processes weren't up to scratch.

"But what I will guarantee is that we will have robust systems in place and there will be consequences."

Ms Woods said new arrivals who broke the rules could face a $4000 fine or six-month prison sentence.

Mr Webb, now the "head of managed isolation and quarantine", said he would be auditing existing systems and protocols to see if they were being implemented.

Mr Webb's new role puts him in charge of the processes in all facilities, and he would be accountable to the person in charge of each facility.

This includes protocol around testing, the enforcement of rules, the logistics of supplies like PPE, coordination with other agencies, introducing new managed isolation facilities and oversight of repatriation efforts.

"There is no doubt that this is a complex matter, but is also the most important part of our collective defence against Covid-19 while we remain in a global pandemic," Mr Webb said.

He said he commissioned an end-to-end review of the managed isolation process today. 

It would cover "from once they have been granted entry into New Zealand to departure after 14 days after following the necessary exit protocols and they've been assessed as low-risk", he said.

A report regarding this is due next week.

"Every New Zealander would be concerned by what has eventuated, and would want to know as soon as possible that our processes and procedures are adequate."

He said he was committed to finding out what had happened over the past week.

The two Covid-19 cases saw Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield apologise for the breakdown in New Zealand's isolation protocol.

While it was initially believed the pair did not have contact with anyone, officials revealed they had contact with friends.

Testing did not occur until the pair reached Wellington. 

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had said it is an "unacceptable failure”.

The Director-General of Health joined Breakfast to discuss two women who travelled from Auckland to Wellington with coronavirus.

National leader Todd Muller called it “bungling mismanagement to effectively quarantine people at our border”.

Ms Woods was given the Housing portfolio last June after issues with KiwiBuild saw it taken off Phil Twyford.

SHARE ME

More Stories