Visiting cricket team breaches isolation rules

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

The West Indies men's cricket team have had their training privileges denied after breaking managed isolation rules inside their Christchurch facility.

The team, here to play New Zealand's Black Caps, is in the managed isolation facility at the Chateau on the Park in Christchurch.

Following an investigation, members of the team were confirmed to have repeatedly broken managed isolation rules.

Many of these incidents have been captured on CCTV and have also been reported by staff. The incidents include groups mingling and sharing food.

It's important to note that all incidents occurred within the hotel facility and there is no risk to the public.

'As with other sports teams that have come to New Zealand, the West Indies cricket team were given certain exemptions from the managed isolation rules which apply to everyone else,” says Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.

'This included being able to be in larger bubbles and train in preparation for their international games.

'It is a privilege to come here but in return they have to stick to the rules. Keeping COVID-19 out of our communities and keeping our staff safe depends on it. They didn't do that, despite agreeing to abide by the parameters of the exemption.

'Consequently, we have revoked the team's exemption from those requirements of the Managed Isolation and Quarantine Order.

'This means members of the team will spend the remainder of their time in managed isolation and they are unable to train.”

Members of the team are currently on day 12 of their isolation period.

The group will be tested today, and the local Medical Officer of Health will determine whether the team in its entirety meets the low risk indicators for release.

If there are any concerns, their period in managed isolation could be extended.

New Zealand health authorities have taken this step as an appropriate action in response to the behaviour identified.

Evidence will be provided to Cricket West Indies to conduct its own investigation, and any disciplinary action it may consider appropriate.

The West Indies cricket team are today discussing next steps with NZ Cricket.

Meanwhile, there is just one new case in managed isolation today.

There are no new community cases.

Today's case arrived on November 3 from Romania via Qatar and Australia.

They are a family member of a previous case from managed isolation and had already been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility, says the Ministry of Health.

One previously reported case has now recovered, so there are 52 active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand.

'Our total number of confirmed cases is 1632.

'Yesterday, laboratories completed 5995 tests for COVID-19, bringing the total number of tests completed to date to 1,148,933.”

November quarantine cluster

While CCTV does not capture all movements around the Auckland quarantine facility, a review of footage has not identified a connection between Case A and the returnees who have a similar genome, says the MOH.

No other cases have this genome sequence, and all staff at the Auckland quarantine facility have returned a negative result to date.

The investigation is ongoing into how transmission occurred.

All occupants of Case A's accommodation have returned negative test results.
Genome sequencing for Case B matched that of Case A, confirming transmission of COVID-19 from the first New Zealand Defence Force worker to the second.

Of 58 close contacts identified for Case B, 56 have returned a negative result. The remaining two are pending.

N95 masks

The Ministry is currently working to update its advice around access to and use of N95 masks in MIQ facilities, including clinical criteria and the supply chain.

The advice will be finalised and then communicated appropriately to clinical teams and managers in MIQ in coming days.

NZ COVID Tracer

The NZ COVID Tracer app now has 2,348,900 registered users.

The app has recorded 111,647,050 poster scans, and users have created 4,639,895 manual diary entries.

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6 comments

There should be no favorites

Posted on 11-11-2020 13:46 | By Chookymac

SEND THEM HOME.


Agree..

Posted on 11-11-2020 16:20 | By The Professor

Kick them out of NZ. We should not be put at risk by these tossers, especially with the Christmas holidays coming up. Stop being so soft NZ.


Totally Agree

Posted on 12-11-2020 10:46 | By Yadick

Send them packing andwitha hefty fine. Professional athletes get away with far too much. As The Professor says, we have Christmas coming up and we don't want to spend it in lockdown because of idiots like this.


I disagree...

Posted on 12-11-2020 12:24 | By morepork

...with the previous posters on this. (I am NOT an avid cricket fan and just try to be fair in all things...) Their transgressions do not warrant them being sent home, and many Kiwis will get great pleasure from seeing them play. Yes, they broke the rules and they have been penalized for it, but the violation was contained within their bubble and posed little or no risk to the public. Not being able to train is a high price for them and they have brought it upon themselves. All privileged visitors here have to understand that we are serious, but I don't think we need to overreact. The health authorities have responded fairly and wisely, in my opinion.


@ morepork

Posted on 12-11-2020 23:06 | By Yadick

I hate how you make so much sense - HAHAHA. Where I come from it's do or die. I learn a lot from your comments.


@Yadick

Posted on 13-11-2020 16:40 | By morepork

One of the wonderful things about travel is seeing that other cultures may have different solutions. I spent 30 years wandering around the planet, living and working in different cultures and trying to understand them. I too consider other people's posts here (including your own), and we can all learn from open and frank discussion (without ad hominem attacks and rancor). I believe in fairness, and recognizing shades of grey, but I have seen cultures where they don't. I don't think they are necessarily "wrong" but I wouldn't choose to live there... :-) The whole world is going through a kind of (painful for many countries) awakening at the moment and Covid has been a big influence. It gives people time to sit down and consider. And there is a rising generation who will not tolerate being suppressed. A better world will come out of it.


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