16 Sep 2020

Anger in Cook Islands after quarantine breach

10:23 am on 16 September 2020

The Cook Islands health ministry has conceded breaches of their Covid-19 quarantine process have put it in jeopardy.

The Cook Islands News reported in the latest incident, two Vodafone technicians had to go into quarantine after being exposed to two returnees who were in isolation.

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Photo: RNZI/Sally Round

The two technicians were released after testing negative.

Vodafone chief executive, Phillip Henderson, said his staff had been misled by customers who did not disclose their status until the work was finished.

He said there was not a clear flag identifying the property as one housing people in quarantine.

It is the third confirmed breach of the quarantine rules and the health ministry, Te Marae Ora, is investigating with police and Crown Law.

Meanwhile, the ministry said, 69 swabs sent to New Zealand last Friday for Covid-19 tests conducted on returnees have returned negative results.