Mercy flights – Asia Pacific Report https://asiapacificreport.nz Independent Asia Pacific news and analysis Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:02:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Fiji covid-19 patient being flown to NZ for treatment in about-turn https://asiapacificreport.nz/2021/07/29/fiji-covid-19-patient-being-flown-to-nz-for-treatment-in-about-turn/ Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:00:38 +0000 https://asiapacificreport.nz/?p=61090 RNZ Pacific

A covid-19 positive patient is being flown to New Zealand from Fiji today despite an earlier decision by the Ministry of Health to decline the transfer.

The infected patient from Fiji is being flown to Auckland for hospital treatment.

It is reported the person involved is a high-profile staff member employed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) currently working in the covid-ravaged country.

The patient was due to board a special flight that was set to arrive in Auckland this afternoon.

The transfer comes after the Ministry of Health said earlier this week that the formal request had been declined on clinical grounds due to ICU being at full capacity.

The fluidity of the situation at the metro-Auckland DHB ICUs determined this treatment can be provided according to the Ministry of Health.

The receiving hospital is yet to be confirmed, and will be determined by the treatment required by the patient and the capacity in the respective ICUs.

There are appropriate isolation and infection prevention and control plans in place at all the metro-DHB hospitals to accommodate this patient, according to the Ministry of Health.

Any patient coming from Fiji, or any other country, is covered by protocols to protect against the risk of spread of covid-19.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said strong protocols were in place to manage the risk of transferring the patient.

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

]]> NZ lockdown – day 27: More mercy flights on way – one more virus death https://asiapacificreport.nz/2020/04/21/nz-lockdown-day-27-more-mercy-flights-on-way-one-more-virus-death/ Tue, 21 Apr 2020 06:53:16 +0000 https://asiapacificreport.nz/?p=44846 Stunning drone footage taken in Auckland and Wellington during level 4 lockdown shows few vehicles and an absence of pedestrians in New Zealand’s main cities. Videos: RNZ visual journalists Simon Rogers and Dom Thomas

By RNZ News

The New Zealand government is planning more repatriation flights for its citizens and residents stuck overseas.

Only citizens and residents are allowed to return under the current border restrictions – with limited exceptions – and all are being quarantined.

Officials have so far helped arrange flights back to New Zealand from Peru, and 167 people who were stranded in the Philippines arrived in Auckland yesterday.

READ MORE: Al Jazeera coronavirus live updates – World death toll tops 170,000

Minister Chris Hipkins said the first flight carrying people who were stranded in India was due in Auckland this week.

He said repatriation efforts continued in what is the largest consular operation ever attempted by New Zealand foreign affairs’ officials.

“Where we can we’re working very closely to make sure that we can get Kiwis home and get those who are in New Zealand who want to get home, also home.”

However, some of those stuck overseas said they would struggle to pay the cost of being repatriated to New Zealand.

India’s announcement of a lockdown was swift.

No way out for foreigners
With only four hours notice between the announcement and when it took effect, there was no way out for foreigners.

Others said flights in the days leading up to the lockdown were cancelled anyway.

The total number of confirmed and probable cases in New Zealand is now 1445, with five new cases identified today, Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield announced.

One new death was announced today – a woman in her 70s who was transferred from St Margaret’s rest home in Auckland to Waitakere Hospital.

A 49-year-old New Zealander has also died of Covid-19 in Peru.

Fourteen people are in hospitals, but none are in a critical condition

The New Zealand death toll from Covid-19 is now 13.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced yesterday that the country would continue its level 4 lockdown until 11.59pm on Monday, April 27.

This article is republished by the Pacific Media Centre under a partnership agreement with RNZ.

  • If you have symptoms of the coronavirus, call the NZ Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or call your GP – don’t show up at a medical centre.
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