WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) – The woman taking a flight back to New Zealand had to avoid any physical contact with others for 14 days as she went into mandatory quarantine. The man who worked at the quarantine hotel would be the last line of defense.
But the two began passing notes to each other, including one written on the back of a face mask. Then she ordered a bottle of wine, which he delivered to her room. When he did not return 20 minutes later, a security manager sent to investigate found the couple together in what authorities describe as an inappropriate meeting, one involving physical distance.
The incident earlier this month, which came to light on Friday, has revealed a very human weakness in coronavirus elimination procedures in New Zealand, in a country that has eradicated the spread of the virus from the community. It’s similar to lapses in Australia that may have contributed to a major outbreak in Melbourne last year.
“We’re dealing with people,” said Secretary of Response COVID-19 Chris Hipkins. “We ask everyone to adhere to the standards we have put in place. I have no control over the actions of each individual. ”
Hipkins said the couple’s behavior was totally unacceptable and he had asked for a thorough investigation.
Sergeant Jim Bliss, the head of managed isolation and quarantine, said the worker was immediately sent home and told to isolate himself. He was later fired. The returning traveler, meanwhile, received a formal written warning from the police. Authorities breathed a sigh of relief after both returned negative coronavirus tests.
“The actions of the two people involved in this incident are incredibly irresponsible and extremely disappointing,” said Bliss. “There is absolutely no room for complacency.”
Bliss said the staff member’s actions at the Grand Millennium Auckland hotel did not reflect the 4,000 people who work in quarantine hotels who “selflessly place themselves between us and this virus” every day. He said an investigation is underway to consider whether additional safety measures are needed.
The identities of the two people involved have not been disclosed by the authorities.
New Zealand’s successful response has resulted in only 25 people dying from the virus in a country of 5 million. The only new cases are those of returning travelers, 100,000 of whom have flown in in the past year. Authorities and people across the country remain well-tuned to any border breaches.