A chartered Government repatriation flight landed in Gisborne today [Monday 6 April] with 13 locals on board.
The passengers had all recently returned from overseas and were in Auckland prior to their departure for Gisborne on a chartered Air New Zealand aircraft.
All the passengers have been in quarantine and remain in quarantine until their individual 14-day timeframes come to an end.
Domestic repatriation flights have been occurring across the country. The process is carefully managed in order to keep the various bubbles isolated from each other and the public.
Domestic repatriation involves police, defence, customs, aviation security, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and health personnel.
Health protection staff know where each passenger is now staying. Public health nurses plan to follow up with the passengers by phone until the end of their quarantine period. If telephone contact isn’t available health staff will ask for support from the police.
The terminal did not open. The aircraft and its crew did not disembark and left Gisborne in the afternoon.
Hauora Tairawhiti chief executive Jim Green says every precaution was taken before the passengers left for their individual destinations.
“It has been a difficult time for anyone whose travel plans were caught up in the lockdown. These 13 people now find themselves in the comfort of their own home and with their own families.”
More repatriation flights are expected over the next few weeks.
Click here to see the Ministry of Health's COVID-19 repatriation of travellers advice
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