Tighter Covid testing regime for aircrew, border workers

24th June 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

A new Covid-19 testing regime has been launched by the Government as more Kiwis return from overseas.

It follows criticism of the Government’s border controls after two recent arrivals returned positive results for Covid-19 and news broke that not all arrivals were being tested before they left managed isolated facilities.

Under the new regime, there would be regular health checks and asymptomatic testing of all border-facing workers, and regular testing of quarantine-exempt people such as air crew.

Testing would be available for anyone presenting to primary or secondary care with any type of Covid-19 symptom.

District Health Boards would be required to regularly review and take actions to increase testing in population groups if there was significant variation to the national average in their region.

David Clark

“With more than 340,000 tests done to date, we have the highest rate of tests per confirmed Covid-19 cases in the world,” health minister David Clark said.

“The greatest risk for us now is the thousands of New Zealanders coming back from global hotspots so our testing strategy will focus on our border.”

The Ministry of Health was already testing people in managed isolation and quarantine facilities at days 3 and 12, and a negative result was required for the later test before people were allowed to leave their quarantine facility.

Priority for testing would be given to people most likely to have been exposed, which were border and airline staff and those arriving back in New Zealand.

Border workers included staff in customs, biosecurity, immigration and aviation security at airports, and cleaners at international airports or maritime ports in areas visited by international arrivals.

It also included staff who worked in managed isolation and quarantine facilities, including those who drove people entering the country from the airport to the facilities.

“Across the wider community, we will continue to test all close contacts of confirmed or probable cases,” Clark said.

“Anyone presenting to primary or secondary care with symptoms consistent with Covid-19 will be offered testing even if they have no history of international travel or contact with travellers.

“The Ministry will also make clear to DHBs the Government’s expectation that there will continue to be a low bar to meet to obtain a Covid-19 test.”