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Quarantine and isolation facilities run by Covid-19 in our largest cities are a constant concern, according to public health expert Michael Baker, who says it opens the door for people who want to escape.
Professor Michael Baker
Photo: Supplied
He believes that having clear rules on the use of masks will help mitigate the threat of community transmission and avoid another lockdown.
Professor Baker said Sunday morning it was too early to tell whether Auckland was safe from further community broadcasting for now.
“We really have to wait a couple of weeks before we can give the go-ahead.”
He said that having MIQ facilities in large cities was a concern.
“That always creates a potential for people who stay in these facilities … maybe to break … break the rules or even run away. There are so many staff working shifts at these facilities, again there is the possibility that produce errors.
“In reality, we are always only a few days away from having a major outbreak if something goes wrong at these facilities in our cities.”
He has been pushing for the mandatory use of masks on public transport for months.
“We all want to do everything possible to avoid a blockade. This is one of the great benefits of masks: we know that they are effective in reducing the transmission of viruses and do not particularly interrupt normal activities, people can still make public transport, they can go to work and school. “
He also said that people should be given clear guidance on how to take sick leave if they contract cold or flu symptoms without fear of job safety.
“We have to have a work environment that makes it easy for people to take time off when they are sick and not ask questions.”
Baker said genome sequencing “was a real standout success for New Zealand as we have gone from not having the capacity at the beginning of the year to the point where we are sequencing all of our detected cases.”
Genome sequencing for the latest case from the Auckland community was completed overnight.
New Zealand was advancing the science in this area, he said.
The government has also confirmed that it would seek to make the wearing of masks mandatory on all public transport in the Auckland region from Monday.
