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Coronavirus: Border isolation 'more like incubation, not quarantine'
Katarina Williams14:06, Jun 19 2020FacebookTwitterWhats AppRedditEmail
7-9 minutes
STUFF
Policies and procedures at two managed isolation facilities under fire.
Trustworthy, accurate and reliable news stories are more important now than ever. Support our newsrooms by making a contribution.
Contribute Now
Social distancing protocols are being ignored.
People mingling with others at different points in their isolation, as children run riot in the hallways.
Nurses stationed in hotels are leaving work in floods of tears after copping abuse.
Some are even refusing Covid-19 tests.
1 NEWS
Dr Ashley Bloomfield says he’s always shared the information he has on hand with the public.
READ MORE:
* Jacinda Ardern under the cosh from Covid-19 slip-up
* Coronavirus: Ministry of Health confirms women with Covid got lost and stopped on drive from Auckland to Wellington
* Coronavirus: Isolated travellers let out to attend large funeral in Christchurch
* Coronavirus: Border bungle an 'unacceptable failure' - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
The-Dominion-Post
Social distancing protocols aren't being adhered to or enforced at managed isolation facility, the Rydges Auckland hotel, according to a New Zealand woman who has returned from Australia.
These are some of the allegations made by people from two of the country's border hotels.
The facilities have been set up with the express purpose of keeping New Zealanders safe during a global pandemic which has killed more than 451,000 people.
Jessie Phelan, 32, characterised her managed isolation experience at the Rydges Auckland hotel as being "more like incubation, not quarantine" - a place where "procedural basics have fallen by the wayside".
SUPPLIED
From left, Jessie and Jordan Phelan are 10 days into their 14-day managed isolation stint at the Rydges Auckland hotel.
She flew in from Sydney with her 25-year-old husband Jordan 10 days ago, yet neither has been tested for Covid-19.
She said individuals at varying points of isolation were mixing, and social distancing protocols haven't been consistently enforced or adhered to.
Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Quarantined people at the Rydges Hotel in Auckland CBD getting fresh air last month.
"If it's not being done to the right standard then everyone should know, because someone needs to be accountable for it," she said.
Management at these facilities have come under heavy fire after two sisters were allowed to leave their border hotel early, before testing positive for the virus.
SUPPLIED
The rooftop balcony at the Rydges Auckland hotel where those in managed isolation can take supervised walks during their 14-day enforced stay.
Since then, a guest at their isolation hotel has been moved to Jet Park Hotel quarantine facility after developing Covid-19 symptoms.
"Clearly, New Zealand wasn't aware of what was going on in these facilities and that surely this whole event, with these women being released, raises a huge alarm.
"If it's not being done to the right standard then everyone should know, because someone needs to be accountable for it," she said.
SUPPLIED
Abigail McEwan, who is in managed isolation, has expressed concerns about the standards and procedures in place at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland.
A few blocks away, Abigail McEwan, 35, who recently returned from the UK, has reached day 13 of her 14-day enforced stay at the Pullman Hotel.
She has raised concerns about the treatment of nurses, dealing with people unwilling to undergo basic medical checks.
"I have heard some horror stories ... nurses have had abuse hurled at them, they've mentioned that they go home crying at night because of how they're being treated by people in the hotel which is appalling."
SUPPLIED
Auckland's Pullman hotel, left, is being used to house people in managed isolation.
A "massive problem" at the hotel has come to light, with several people refusing to be tested for Covid-19. One person McEwan spoke to was doing so because the test impinges on her human rights.
"Some are even refusing to have their temperatures taken. Apparently, multiple people who are due to be released this weekend are refusing to have the Covid test done," McEwan said.
One person McEwan spoke to was doing so because the test impinges on her human rights.
SUPPLIED
Another area on Auckland's waterfront where people in managed isolation at the Rydges hotel are taken for supervised walks.
However, director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said those who do refuse will not be able to leave a facility, as one of the requirements under the Health Act order is for those leaving to be deemed "low risk".
This means spending 14 days in a facility, without symptoms and returning a negative Covid-19 test on departure.
"If [people] refuse a test, they can be held for a further 14 days," Bloomfield said on Friday.
SUPPLIED
A copy of a letter given to those entering New Zealand at the border.
McEwan also filed a complaint on Thursday after "a huge influx of new arrivals" were put in rooms "surrounding her".
"They've been socialising in each others' rooms. Children playing in the hallway. And I said to the hotel, it is actually making me quite anxious because I am coming to the end of my quarantine.
"I'm healthy. I'm well. I've followed the rules. And now I am being put at risk by people who are fresh off a flight. Yesterday, I was quite stressed about it," McEwan said.
STUFF
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media about New Zealand's handling of three recent Covid-19 cases, all linked to the border.
A conference room was being used as an exercise area where social distancing guidelines were regularly flouted.
Both women have empathised with those tasked with working in the facilities, sharing eerily similar observations of "poor management" and communication from "higher ups" in the government.
"We all made the decision to come back at this point in time and I do feel like a lot of the hotel staff, the nurses and immigration officers are getting a bad rap when, ultimately it's not their fault.
SUPPLIED
Jessie Phelan, in mandatory isolation at the Rydges Auckland hotel, believes the point of quarantine "has been lost in translation".
McEwan felt there had been "a breakdown" in facility management - a viewpoint shared by Phelan.
"It has become clear that the policies and procedures in place regarding testing are not down to negligence at a facility level, but a direct order from the Ministry of Health itself.
Phelan believed the purpose of managed isolation had become "lost in translation" with too much focus on wellbeing.
"I think we all knew, coming into the country, what we were getting ourselves into.
"It was never supposed to be some sort of luxurious hotel stay as they're sort of trying to paint it out as. It's meant to be to protect the community that we're coming back into," Phelan said.
BORDER HOTELS
Managed isolation v quarantine: Those who don't have Covid-19 symptoms are placed in managed isolation, while those who are showing them, or test positive on arrival, go into quarantine.
Compassionate exemptions: Suspended since Tuesday, after two women were allowed to leave their Auckland facility early without a test and subsequently tested positive in Wellington.
Become a Stuff supporter today for as little as $1 to help our local news teams bring you reliable, independent news you can trust.
Contribute Now
Coronavirus: Border isolation 'more like incubation, not quarantine'
Katarina Williams14:06, Jun 19 2020FacebookTwitterWhats AppRedditEmail
7-9 minutes
STUFF
Policies and procedures at two managed isolation facilities under fire.
Trustworthy, accurate and reliable news stories are more important now than ever. Support our newsrooms by making a contribution.
Contribute Now
Social distancing protocols are being ignored.
People mingling with others at different points in their isolation, as children run riot in the hallways.
Nurses stationed in hotels are leaving work in floods of tears after copping abuse.
Some are even refusing Covid-19 tests.
1 NEWS
Dr Ashley Bloomfield says he’s always shared the information he has on hand with the public.
READ MORE:
* Jacinda Ardern under the cosh from Covid-19 slip-up
* Coronavirus: Ministry of Health confirms women with Covid got lost and stopped on drive from Auckland to Wellington
* Coronavirus: Isolated travellers let out to attend large funeral in Christchurch
* Coronavirus: Border bungle an 'unacceptable failure' - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
The-Dominion-Post
Social distancing protocols aren't being adhered to or enforced at managed isolation facility, the Rydges Auckland hotel, according to a New Zealand woman who has returned from Australia.
These are some of the allegations made by people from two of the country's border hotels.
The facilities have been set up with the express purpose of keeping New Zealanders safe during a global pandemic which has killed more than 451,000 people.
Jessie Phelan, 32, characterised her managed isolation experience at the Rydges Auckland hotel as being "more like incubation, not quarantine" - a place where "procedural basics have fallen by the wayside".
SUPPLIED
From left, Jessie and Jordan Phelan are 10 days into their 14-day managed isolation stint at the Rydges Auckland hotel.
She flew in from Sydney with her 25-year-old husband Jordan 10 days ago, yet neither has been tested for Covid-19.
She said individuals at varying points of isolation were mixing, and social distancing protocols haven't been consistently enforced or adhered to.
Abigail Dougherty/Stuff
Quarantined people at the Rydges Hotel in Auckland CBD getting fresh air last month.
"If it's not being done to the right standard then everyone should know, because someone needs to be accountable for it," she said.
Management at these facilities have come under heavy fire after two sisters were allowed to leave their border hotel early, before testing positive for the virus.
SUPPLIED
The rooftop balcony at the Rydges Auckland hotel where those in managed isolation can take supervised walks during their 14-day enforced stay.
Since then, a guest at their isolation hotel has been moved to Jet Park Hotel quarantine facility after developing Covid-19 symptoms.
"Clearly, New Zealand wasn't aware of what was going on in these facilities and that surely this whole event, with these women being released, raises a huge alarm.
"If it's not being done to the right standard then everyone should know, because someone needs to be accountable for it," she said.
SUPPLIED
Abigail McEwan, who is in managed isolation, has expressed concerns about the standards and procedures in place at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland.
A few blocks away, Abigail McEwan, 35, who recently returned from the UK, has reached day 13 of her 14-day enforced stay at the Pullman Hotel.
She has raised concerns about the treatment of nurses, dealing with people unwilling to undergo basic medical checks.
"I have heard some horror stories ... nurses have had abuse hurled at them, they've mentioned that they go home crying at night because of how they're being treated by people in the hotel which is appalling."
SUPPLIED
Auckland's Pullman hotel, left, is being used to house people in managed isolation.
A "massive problem" at the hotel has come to light, with several people refusing to be tested for Covid-19. One person McEwan spoke to was doing so because the test impinges on her human rights.
"Some are even refusing to have their temperatures taken. Apparently, multiple people who are due to be released this weekend are refusing to have the Covid test done," McEwan said.
One person McEwan spoke to was doing so because the test impinges on her human rights.
SUPPLIED
Another area on Auckland's waterfront where people in managed isolation at the Rydges hotel are taken for supervised walks.
However, director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said those who do refuse will not be able to leave a facility, as one of the requirements under the Health Act order is for those leaving to be deemed "low risk".
This means spending 14 days in a facility, without symptoms and returning a negative Covid-19 test on departure.
"If [people] refuse a test, they can be held for a further 14 days," Bloomfield said on Friday.
SUPPLIED
A copy of a letter given to those entering New Zealand at the border.
McEwan also filed a complaint on Thursday after "a huge influx of new arrivals" were put in rooms "surrounding her".
"They've been socialising in each others' rooms. Children playing in the hallway. And I said to the hotel, it is actually making me quite anxious because I am coming to the end of my quarantine.
"I'm healthy. I'm well. I've followed the rules. And now I am being put at risk by people who are fresh off a flight. Yesterday, I was quite stressed about it," McEwan said.
STUFF
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media about New Zealand's handling of three recent Covid-19 cases, all linked to the border.
A conference room was being used as an exercise area where social distancing guidelines were regularly flouted.
Both women have empathised with those tasked with working in the facilities, sharing eerily similar observations of "poor management" and communication from "higher ups" in the government.
"We all made the decision to come back at this point in time and I do feel like a lot of the hotel staff, the nurses and immigration officers are getting a bad rap when, ultimately it's not their fault.
SUPPLIED
Jessie Phelan, in mandatory isolation at the Rydges Auckland hotel, believes the point of quarantine "has been lost in translation".
McEwan felt there had been "a breakdown" in facility management - a viewpoint shared by Phelan.
"It has become clear that the policies and procedures in place regarding testing are not down to negligence at a facility level, but a direct order from the Ministry of Health itself.
Phelan believed the purpose of managed isolation had become "lost in translation" with too much focus on wellbeing.
"I think we all knew, coming into the country, what we were getting ourselves into.
"It was never supposed to be some sort of luxurious hotel stay as they're sort of trying to paint it out as. It's meant to be to protect the community that we're coming back into," Phelan said.
BORDER HOTELS
Managed isolation v quarantine: Those who don't have Covid-19 symptoms are placed in managed isolation, while those who are showing them, or test positive on arrival, go into quarantine.
Compassionate exemptions: Suspended since Tuesday, after two women were allowed to leave their Auckland facility early without a test and subsequently tested positive in Wellington.
Become a Stuff supporter today for as little as $1 to help our local news teams bring you reliable, independent news you can trust.
Contribute Now
