Covid 19 coronavirus: US Ambassador Scott Brown responds to claims that he dodged New Zealand isolation

The United States ambassador to New Zealand, who was accused of circumventing our country’s official quarantine facilities after returning from a trip to the United States, says he followed the rules and says claims that he circumvented isolation are “malicious “.

Scott Brown and his wife Gail decided to skip 14 days in controlled isolation, rather than choose to isolate themselves at their home in Lower Hutt.

The Government cannot force diplomats to enter managed quarantine facilities due to international immunity standards, despite strongly recommending that diplomats do so.

Brown recently visited Washington, where he met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Under Secretary Stephen Biegun, the United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and New Zealand Ambassador Rosemary Banks.

Brown told Heather Du Plessis-Allan of Newstalk ZB that he did not remain in controlled isolation because he was following detailed reentry rules that had been established for diplomats.

He said it received approval from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He and his wife were tested for Covid before taking their flight back to New Zealand, and voluntarily submitted to border controls after arriving in New Zealand, such as temperature control and interview.

Brown said he will also be tested for Covid on days 3 and 12 of his isolation, like all people in managed isolation.

The suggestion that he had “bypassed” managed isolation was “malicious,” he said. She was following the protocols established in the Vienna Convention.

“Do you know where the [US Embassy] residence is. I have 12 foot fences, gates around me, guards and cameras. Frankly, there’s no way it’s going to come out. “

He declined to comment on claims from anonymous sources that his insistence on isolating himself at home had “surprised” the MFAT. But he said he had not received any “rejections” from anyone in New Zealand.

Brown said that isolating himself at home was also saving the government money.

“This is not costing the New Zealand government a penny. We should not be a burden and spend New Zealand citizens dollars.

“As you know … we had 4000 protesters after the Black Lives Matter incident, and there is a concern for safety not only for me, but for all ambassadors and to put additional resources to protect myself in a hotel, no residency is necessary. that is available to us. “

Earlier in a written statement, Brown, who has close ties to President Donald Trump, said that both he and his wife tested negative before leaving the United States and returning to New Zealand.

“We have been very careful in wearing masks and observing social distancing guidelines during transit. We were successfully examined by health authorities upon arrival in Auckland and again in Wellington.

“Like everyone else, we will be medically monitored while we are in isolation and we will be tested again around day 3 and day 12. We will not come out of isolation until those tests are negative.”

Brown said both the New Zealand and US governments were aware of his travel plans and that he was in contact with MFAT and the Health Ministry to refine the rules on his return.

In his written statement, Brown paid tribute to New Zealand officials for how they have handled the Covid-19 response.

“Since the beginning of this crisis, the diplomatic corps here in New Zealand has been working with MFAT and the MOH to refine protocols related to Covid.

“Frankly, New Zealand officials deserve great credit for how incredibly thorough they have been working with us to create processes that keep kiwis safe.”

He signed his statement, writing: “He waka eke noa. We are all in this together.”

While New Zealand currently has only 122 confirmed and probable cases, the US continues to see close to 1,000 Covid-related deaths each day.

The United States has more than 5.7 million confirmed cases and more than 178,000 deaths from Covid-19, one of the highest death figures in the world.

Brown’s tenure in New Zealand has not been easy after the State Department investigated his conduct at a Peace Corps event in Samoa in July 2017.

An official complaint was made about the comments Brown had made upon arriving at the event.

He concluded that it should be more culturally aware.

Brown was a promising basketball star before embarking on a military career in which he rose to the rank of colonel.

FULL STATEMENT BY US AMBASSADOR SCOTT BROWN:

Since the beginning of this crisis, the diplomatic corps here in New Zealand has been working with MFAT and the MOH to refine protocols related to Covid. Frankly, New Zealand officials deserve great credit for how incredibly thorough they have been working with us to create processes that keep kiwis safe.

Speaking on behalf of our Mission, US diplomatic personnel in New Zealand have voluntarily acted in accordance with New Zealand’s Covid-19 guidance and, as always, the actions of our diplomatic personnel have been guided by the Convention of Vienna and the laws of the host country.

Over the past few weeks I have traveled to the United States for high-level meetings, including with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Under Secretary Stephen Biegun, United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Robert Lighthizer, and New Zealand Ambassador Rosemary Banks. .

Even before I left New Zealand, our two governments began to explore how best to manage my return to New Zealand.

I know, and have repeatedly reminded our incoming staff, that we are guests in this country. We have taken, and are, voluntarily taking prudent and proactive measures to limit any possibility of the spread of the Covid virus. In fact, we have actively encouraged others to do so. We do not anticipate that change.

• The US Department of State has provided and paid for testing facilities and self-isolation for all US diplomats and their families entering New Zealand.
• Gail and I had negative results before leaving the United States.
• We have been very careful with the use of masks and with the guidelines of social distancing during the transit.
• We were successfully examined by the health authorities upon arrival in Auckland and again in Wellington.
• Like everyone else, we will be medically monitored while in isolation and will be retested around Day 3 and Day 12. We will not come out of isolation until those tests are negative.

Our Embassy and Consulate will continue to cooperatively coordinate our arrangements with the Government of New Zealand.

Waka eke noa. we are all in this together