National is calling on the Government to investigate construction of a purpose-built Covid-19 quarantine facility on the
outskirts of Auckland to help safeguard against future lockdowns in our largest city.
“The recent Pullman hotel cases showed just how much risk Auckland is at of another community outbreak because of the
ingrained problems with MIQ,” Mr Bishop says.
“New Zealand can’t afford to keep yo-yoing in and out of lockdown and Auckland’s economy can’t afford to keep bleeding
more than $30 million per day.”
The Victorian government is currently planning a cabin-style hub outside Melbourne’s CBD to replace its MIQ hotels
following a recent outbreak that lead to a lockdown. This facility will likely be a village of single-storey
pre-fabricated structures with separate ventilation systems for each room. Returnees share the facility but not the same
roof.
Having ample fresh air reduces the risk of airborne transmission among returnees, while the isolated location makes it
harder for the virus to find its way into heavily-populated urban areas where it can spread faster. Separate on-site
facilities for staff also lessens the chance of them bringing Covid-19 into the community.
National believes a similar facility should be built on vacant land near Auckland Airport and is calling for urgent
investigations to begin.
The cost could be covered by contributions from the Government, private sector, and payments by returning New
Zealanders, Mr Bishop says.
“A purpose-built facility may prove expensive but its cost will be dwarfed by the economic hit of putting Auckland into
more lockdowns.”
Using hotels for managed isolation and quarantine has proven problematic, which is why experts have long suggested
purpose-built facilities, Mr Bishop says
Professors Michael Baker and Nick Wilson recently itemised at least 10 border control failures since July 2020 and at
least five internal MIQ facility failures. Both noted that hotels have inherent problems with shared spaces and
inadequate ventilation.
“It’s clear that New Zealand will need MIQ facilities for some time to come with mass vaccination unlikely until the end
of the year,” Mr Bishop says.
“We have done well to keep Covid-19 from taking hold but this has come at great cost. Maintaining this effort will
require innovative thinking, particularly as the virus mutates.
“If done right, the new Auckland quarantine facility could be converted into much-needed housing once it has served its
initial purpose. The demand for this facility will not expire.
“The Government should act now to get ahead of the problem before another Covid-19 outbreak forces yet another lockdown.
We have had more than enough wake-up calls.”