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Shift to COVID-19 alert level 2 'reasonable', but Auckland outbreak 'looks like a border failure' - epidemiologist Newshub 17/02/2021 Michael Morrah © Video - Newshub; Image - Getty / Newshub. Watch: Professor Michael Baker says the alert level change is a "calculated risk". Epidemiologist Michael Baker says Auckland shifting to COVID-19 alert level 2 is reasonable, as we're not seeing widespread unexpected community spread.  The Otago University professor says the main source of incursion still appears to be from a failure at the border.  "I think it's still looking ve...

Saliva testing Professors Michael Baker and Nick Wilson from the University of Otago are arguing for compulsory "daily PCR-based testing of saliva for MIQ [Managed Isolation and Quarantine] workers". In a paper containing 12 recommendations to make the border safer, they say this option could also be "explored for travellers in MIQ in addition to the current testing regimen to allow for comparative assessments". Prof Wilson said New Zealand should have moved from weekly testing long ago, and should be saliva testing border staff daily. Professor Nick Wilson. Photo: RNZ Insight / John Gerrits...

The Grand Millenium in Auckland's CBD is a COVID-19 managed isolation hotel.  It's a high-risk venue, but not enough to stop what appears to have been a high-risk romantic rendezvous.  "It's unacceptable. There are consequences. The person has already lost their job," COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins said at a press conference on Friday afternoon. That person is a staff member at the hotel, with Hipkins describing it as an "encounter" and refusing to speculate on whether the visit was of a sexual nature. "I didn't enquire specifically into the nature of the encounter," he said. Eventua...

'Our dumb luck will run out': COVID-19 experts condemn 'encounter' in MIQ hotel, say we've 'dodged a bullet' Newshub 29/01/2021 Michael Morrah 'Our dumb luck will run out': COVID-19 experts condemn 'encounter' in MIQ hotel, say we've 'dodged a bullet' Replay Video The Grand Millenium in Auckland's CBD is a COVID-19 managed isolation hotel.  It's a high-risk venue, but not enough to stop what appears to have been a high-risk romantic rendezvous.  "It's unacceptable. There are consequences. The person has already lost their job," COVID Response Minister Chris Hipkins said at...

Professor Michael Baker Photo: University of Otago Wellington / Luke Pilkinton-Ching​ The only main route from the UK to New Zealand which doesn't require a pre-departure test currently, is through Doha. New Zealanders in the UK are not allowed to transit through Japan, China or Hong Kong, and currently need a negative test before transiting through Singapore. Prof Baker said the new requirement was an inevitable shift in policy. "Almost all airline routes into New Zealand require testing before you travel through them so I'm not sure if this new requirement will change much for people tr...