Taxpayers have footed the bill for an Australian woman's extra time in managed isolation, after she refused to get a Covid-19 test.

Australian woman Lucinda Baulch spent 28 days - 14 days longer than usual - in the Grand Mercure in Wellington after refusing to get a test.

The vet nurse flew to New Zealand to deliver three children to their caregivers in February.

She refused a test, arguing she had not been provided with enough evidence of its safety or effectiveness.

However, it was later revealed that she had protested against Covid-19 protection measures in Australia and she had starred in a series of YouTube videos with a notorious conspiracy theorist during her elongated period in managed isolation.

RNZ made a request under the Official Information Act for details of the costs incurred by New Zealand taxpayers in keeping Baulch in MIQ for 28 days.

In its response, a Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment – MBIE - official says there is no requirement to charge more if people stayed longer in MIQ.

"Regarding the additional 14 days, there is no provision to charge any additional amount if someone has to stay for longer than the initial 14 days. If, for example, they have contracted Covid-19, or are a close contact of someone with Covid-19, or have refused to be tested for Covid-19".

Lucinda Baulch. Photo: Stuff.

The MBIE official says they are withholding the details relating to the costs Baulch incurred during her initial 14 days stay due to privacy reasons.

They also are withholding general information about the costs of staying at any particular MIQ facility, as it could "prejudice the ministry's ability to carry out commercial negotiations with MIQ facilities".

The official says it is not possible for MBIE to calculate an accurate "cost to the taxpayer" as other agencies involved, such as NZDF, Ministry of Health, and New Zealand Police, are all responsible for their own funding.

However, a Cabinet Paper from July last year estimates the average cost for a single traveller over 14 days in MIQ would be around $7000.

This does not include costs such as transporting people, or MBIE's overheads to operate the MIQ system.

New Zealand Covid-19 update

On Sunday, the Ministry of Health reported six new cases of Covid-19 in managed isolation from the previous three days. There were no community cases.

Before the long Easter weekend, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins urged Kiwis to be vigilant and to remember the importance of using the Covid-tracer app.

The app now has 2.7 million registered users and there were 615,005 poster scans in the 24 hours to 1pm on Sunday.

For Easter, Hamilton's Ibis Tainui Hotel prepared bunny face cloths, egg and spoon races, hot cross buns and the like to brighten up the confinement - and to give staffers a boost as well.

It had to be planned in advance, as hotel staffers can't go into returnees' rooms once they're checked in. Returnees were given a riddle clue one morning so they could begin their Easter egg hunt.

Ibis Tainui Hotel manager Niraj Kumar hoped it would make a difference to those in isolation – as they need the celebrations more than regular guests.

Global toll

It's been a year since our lockdown. A year ago, Covid-19 tipped the lives of New Zealanders upside down and forced five million people indoors amid an unprecedented nationwide lockdown.

Since then, Auckland has been through four lockdowns, a vaccine rollout has begun, and New Zealand has successfully managed to eliminate Covid-19 in the community.

Excluding our closed border, life is relatively back to normal here. However, that's not the case with many countries overseas.

The global number of cases has reached 131.1 million, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Global deaths have surpassed 2.8 million.

The United States continues to record the most cases and fatalities - 30.7 million infections, and 554,985 deaths.
Brazil and India have had the second and third most cases, with 12.9 million and 12.4 million infections, respectively.

What should I do?

Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.

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.