Last week, the South Pacific nation removed national social distancing measures. (File)
Wellington, New Zealand:
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ordered the military to monitor New Zealand’s borders on Wednesday after a quarantine jungle that allowed COVID-19 to return to the country.
A 24-day race with no new cases was interrupted on Tuesday when it emerged that two women recently arrived from Britain were allowed to leave early quarantine without being tested for the virus, even if one had symptoms. light.
The couple were finally buffered and found to be infected, but only after making a 650-kilometer (400-mile) trip from Auckland to Wellington to see a dying relative.
Ardern said it was “absolutely absurd” that they had not been tested earlier and that it was clear that border controls needed to be tightened to prevent similar failures from happening again.
She said deputy chief of defense Digby Webb had been appointed to oversee border quarantine operations and had access to military personnel and logistical expertise.
“I think we need the discipline, we need the confidence, we need the discipline that the military can provide,” Ardern told reporters.
Health Minister David Clark said New Zealand had successfully “eliminated COVID-19” before the last imported cases, after recording only 22 deaths in a population of five million.
Last week, the South Pacific nation abolished national social distancing measures, while maintaining strong border restrictions.
Ardern suspended the program Wednesday that allowed women to be released early from quarantine for compassionate reasons, saying that New Zealand’s successful viral response could not be compromised.
She noted that the women, who were visiting a dying relative, had done nothing wrong and were following health protocols at all times.
Women remain isolated while health officials struggle to test around 320 people with whom they have been in contact in New Zealand.
(With the exception of the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
