Colin Tukuitonga: Public health experts says bringing WHO patient to New Zealand is risky
Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · Newstalk ZB
July 29, 20214m 11s
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Show Notes
New Zealand may be taking on extra risks -- by allowing a Covid-19 patient to be transferred from Fiji to New Zealand for treatment.
The woman arrived at Auckland Airport last night, before being transferred to Middlemore Hospital.
She's understood to be a high-profile World Health Organisation staffer, medevaced under a UN agreement.
Auckland University public health expert Colin Tukuitonga told Kate Hawkesby it's an inherently risky move.
“There’s a higher chance that this is Delta varient, and Delta can go bad real quick. I think we’re accepting a risky situatuion to be honest.”
Tukuitonga says if New Zealand wants to help people in Fiji, it should be deploying more specialists and resources to the country.
LISTEN ABOVE
The woman arrived at Auckland Airport last night, before being transferred to Middlemore Hospital.
She's understood to be a high-profile World Health Organisation staffer, medevaced under a UN agreement.
Auckland University public health expert Colin Tukuitonga told Kate Hawkesby it's an inherently risky move.
“There’s a higher chance that this is Delta varient, and Delta can go bad real quick. I think we’re accepting a risky situatuion to be honest.”
Tukuitonga says if New Zealand wants to help people in Fiji, it should be deploying more specialists and resources to the country.
LISTEN ABOVE
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