The Wiggles have been given a spot in managed isolation, while Kiwis are still struggling to get home.
On the same day the children's entertainers were given the green light, Trev Ponting, 46, who was diagnosed with brain tumours and given just months to live, was knocked back. There is no emergency spot for him to come home to see his family.
There is a high threshold for the 150 emergency allocation rooms available each fortnight, but according to the managed isolation and quarantine emergency allocation team, Trev's situation doesn't meet the criteria.
'We know at this point that we're going to lose him and to have his family here and his children here to help support them, that would just be everything,” says Yvonne Ponting of her brother, who lives in Japan with his wife and children.
General public spaces in MIQ have been booked until the end of May.
'Even if we manage to get a managed isolation spot just via the general public way, he's going to be dead by the time he gets his spot," says Yvonne.
She feared there was a two-prong risk for the family. Firstly, that Trev would not make it home to New Zealand in time altogether or that he would get back, but not recognise his family due to his worsening brain tumours.
Twelve people from the Wiggles were granted vouchers for spaces left aside for contingencies.
Meanwhile, the country's managed isolation and quarantine system remains in the spotlight after a staffer of the Grand Millennium hotel in Auckland had an 'inappropriate” encounter with a returnee in their room for 20 minutes. The pair exchanged notes, one on a face mask. The employee was later fired.
The investigation into the Pullman Hotel, the facility at the centre of the latest community cases, continues. All outgoing guests are required to complete self-isolation at home and undergo another Covid-19 test after being released.
And the practice of bussing returnees across Auckland for exercise in a fenced off area has been labelled 'stupid” by a leading epidemiologist.
On the travel bubble front, Australia is planning to review its pause on the green zone, daily. The country's health minister cited New Zealand's 'tremendous” testing blitz as the basis for the ongoing review.
The two-way trans-Tasman bubble is still being worked on in the background, with the belief it may inflate in as little as eight weeks.
And although there's no evidence of community transmission, event organisers have made the decision to cancel Auckland Waitangi Day celebrations.
Global toll
More than 101 million people have been infected by Covid-19 worldwide and over 2.1 million have died as a result, according to Johns Hopkins University.
The United States continues to record the most infections and fatalities - 25.8 million cases and 434,126 deaths.
India and Brazil have also recorded high concentrations of cases and deaths - India has reported 10.7 million cases and 154,010 deaths, while Brazil has just over 9 million cases and 221,547 deaths.
The highly-transmissible South African variant of the virus is sweeping South Africa and exhibiting a 'terrifying” dominance.
The spread of the new variants has forced the United Kingdom to introduce a ban on all incoming flights from the United Arab Emirates, Rwanda, and Burundi.
What should I do?
Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.
New Zealand is at Covid-19 alert level 1.
Masks are mandatory for people travelling on public transport services in and out of the Auckland region; the drivers of small passenger service vehicles in Auckland, such as taxis and app-based ride services; and people travelling on passenger flights throughout New Zealand.
If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.
To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.
Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.
Steven Walton/Stuff
5 comments
Genuine case
Posted on 30-01-2021 12:22 | By Johnney
It was recently highlighted that 12 people who went through MIQ at the Pullman then flew on to Australia, then 3 flew on to Hong Kong. They were obviously not genuine Kiwi returnees. Something is definitely amiss when a genuine case like this is not catered for. Even the Wiggles are more important than this poor blokes plight.
Trevor needs priority NOW!
Posted on 30-01-2021 13:13 | By morepork
This is obviously a genuine case where we need to step up. Nothing against the Wiggles; they bring a lot of joy to a lot of people and Trevor's plight is hardly their fault. But, if we can make an exception for them, we MUST make exceptions in genuine heartbreaking situations like Trevor's. I wonder if Jacinda knows about this case?
@johnney
Posted on 30-01-2021 13:20 | By morepork
I share your concern about Kiwis returning, who are NOT returning. There should be a requirement for returnees who are booking MIQ spaces to have their passports suspended for 6 months after arrival. The middle of a devastating pandemic is no time to be touring the world... If the demand slackens and there is less strain on MIQ, then this requirement could be relaxed. Business travelers could pay more for their MIQ space, and be exempt. Special circumstances could be pled through the existing mechanisms.
Alternatively
Posted on 30-01-2021 17:06 | By Slim Shady
It just highlights what I’ve said all along - they are a complete waste of time and money and unnecessary. 1 in 1600 who fly in have the virus. If we had self isolation, proper monitoring and penalties we could let in Kiwi residents and passports holders only, to self isolate at home. Minister Hipkins talks all the time about “risk profile”. It’s why they have been allowing people to mingle in MIQ - the risk is so low to start with and nudges up ever so slightly by mingling. By shutting these stupid places and doing self isolation and monitoring, with harsh penalties for lapses, contact tracing, we would be perfectly fine. They are stupid and all they have done is given people the idea that we are bullet proof and that we must never let it in. We have to get off that idea.
@ Slim Shady
Posted on 01-02-2021 12:49 | By morepork
You make a good case and I am mostly persuaded by it. My reservation would be in whether people can be trusted to self-isolate, but, as you pointed out, it would be properly policed. Certainly, MIQs have generally served their purpose with over 80,000 people now having passed through and less than 2 dozen who broke the rules. But, I agree with you, it should be reviewed. The problem with limiting it to Kiwis only, is that we need overseas business. Non-Kiwis can't self-isolate "at home", and it is far too risky to let them into the Community at the moment. Proper testing and tracking, allied with isolation as you suggest, and mass vaccination could change the picture significantly. Maybe by the end of this year...
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