Coronavirus: Tourists fail to self-isolate, arrive at Wanaka iSite in campervan

By Kerrie Waterworth

Otago Daily Times·

19 Mar, 2020 01:14 AM2 mins to read

New Zealand's borders will be closed to everyone but citizens and residents, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced.

Two tourists arriving at Queenstown airport, hiring a Jucy van and driving to Lake Wanaka iSite visitor information centre, has prompted a call for businesses to be more vigilant with regard to visitors coming through their doors.

Lake Wanaka iSite staff raised the alarm when the two tourists arrived at the centre about 2pm yesterday.

Lake Wanaka Tourism general manager James Helmore said the iSite had put in place a procedure whereby staff asked any visitor making a booking to validate and verify their status as to when they arrived, and whether they were compliant with the self-isolation laws.

"Passports are now getting date stamps in them, so the message for every business in Wanaka is to make sure you are double-checking those date stamps because it is about keeping yourself and your staff safe, so our communities can remain as safe as they can."

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Helmore welcomed the Queenstown Lakes District Council posting the Immigration NZ phone number for people to call on its Facebook page.

Immigration NZ needed to be advised of any visitor who arrived who was unwell or if there were any concerns about them, he said.

"We need to make sure visitors are not putting us unnecessarily at risk," he said.

"This initial phase from the Government is all about containment, to slow down the spread of Covid-19, and that is how our health system will cope with the cases that may arise," Mr Helmore said.

This article was first published in the Otago Daily Times.

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