Dr Ashley Bloomfield: Breaches of managed isolation are taken seriously

The Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says any breaches of COVID-19 managed isolation facility rules is taken very seriously after six Pakistan men’s cricket team members tested positive for COVID-19. 

“It is a privilege to come to New Zealand to play sport, but in return, teams must stick to the rules that are designed to keep COVID-19 out of our communities and keep our staff safe.”

53 members arrived in Christchurch on 24 November and were tested on day 1, and these cases are the results of those tests.

All of the positive cases were moved to quarantine rooms within the facility. Members of the team will be tested 4 times at a minimum while in managed isolation.

The members of the team will not be able to leave the facility to train, and any training is conditional on a public health assessment. No training will be taking place.

A final warning was issued to the whole team by the Ministry of Health.

Head of Managed Isolation and Quarantine Darryn Webb says there is a robust process in place for managed isolation facilities to react to these types of breaches.

“Our focus is on keeping the rest of the squad and our staff safe. For that reason, all other team members must remain in their rooms while investigations continue. This is in line with standard operating procedures at managed isolation facilities.”

Image: CC/ Sam Hudson