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A man who died while in administered isolation in Auckland has become the first person to die in a quarantine facility in New Zealand.
A spokesperson for Managed Isolation and Quarantine confirmed that this was the first time someone had died while undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine, after arriving from abroad.
Authorities said the 63-year-old returnee died yesterday at the Grand Millennium Auckland.
Police confirmed that they were notified of the sudden death in the afternoon and that it appeared to be related to a medical event.
It is not known how much time passed in the 14-day quarantine period he was in, before he died yesterday.
Andrew Milne, Deputy Director of Isolation and Managed Quarantine: “[We are] I am saddened to confirm that a 63-year-old man, who came from the Pacific and is staying at the Grand Millennium Auckland, sadly passed away (yesterday).
Death not related to Covid
“The returnee showed no symptoms related to Covid-19 during his previous daily health checks.”
The Health Ministry has assessed the circumstances of the man’s death and, at this stage, it is not believed to be related to Covid-19.
The man also came from a country that does not have Covid transmission within the community and had no symptoms.
Milne said a forensic investigation is now underway, so they could not comment further on the situation.
It is understood that people in controlled isolation at the Grand Millennium Auckland were informed of sudden death and asked to remain in their rooms for some time.
What happens when there is an unexpected death of a returnee?
Official advice given in a 135-page framework of operations for managed quarantine and isolation facilities, when it comes to an unexpected death, shows the heartbreaking reality for those involved.
If the person stayed with other people in the same room, those people would be moved to a different room immediately after death.
Authorities have not said whether the man who died yesterday had been isolating himself with someone else.
The document also reveals that every unexpected death in a quarantine facility should be treated as a Covid-related death, even if the death appears to be unrelated to the virus.
“Staff must wear (personal protective equipment) and the body and room must be treated as if the person had been infected with Covid-19 prior to death.”
