It has been suggested cruise ships could be commandeered as floating quarantine hotels, as the numbers of returning New Zealanders needing isolation accommodation increases to 6000.
“I think everything is on the table at this point,” Health Minister Chris Hipkins responded to the idea that was floated at a press conference on Tuesday.
There has been a shortage of appropriate accommodation for New Zealanders returning from overseas to spend their mandatory quarantine period of 14 days. Airlines have been told to cap inbound travel as hotels and temporary isolation facilities are booked out for returning travellers.
There have also been couple of high-profile breaches at quarantine hotels, including an incident on Tuesday, after which a returning passenger who absconded from a central Auckland address tested positive for coronavirus.
“There are a whole lot of things to consider, the security of the facility is one of them,” said Hipkins.
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