Sunrise co-hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch have been left horrified by New Zealands ridiculous hotel quarantine system after speaking to a family stuck in isolation for a month.<\/p>\n
The Williamsons, consisting of mum Casey, dad Glen, and children Sam, Luca and Maya, flew into Auckland on January 16 after spending Christmas with family in Sydney.<\/p>\n
Watch their story in the video player above<\/p>\n
Five days into their mandatory 10-day lock-up, Luca tested positive, extending the whole groups quarantine period.<\/p>\n
The family was told that while she could leave 14 days after her positive test, everyone else must complete a further 10 days of isolation after that date.<\/p>\n
In a devastating blow, the clock then reset again on Friday when Sam received a positive result.<\/p>\n
Basically, if you test positive here, you have to stay in the facility for 14 days and then as a close contact you need to stay in here for 10 days after their 14 days, mum Casey told Sunrise.<\/p>\n
So as each person in our family tests positive, we have to spend 24 days in here.<\/p>\n
Casey said the lengthy stay in a hotel room was starting to wear the family-of-five down, admitting it was getting difficult to cope.<\/p>\n
Her husband has moved to another room in the hopes he can leave at the same time as the first two daughters scheduled to be released.<\/p>\n
If Maya and I test positive tomorrow, the 24 days resets again.<\/p>\n
So were kind of hoping we test positive together and then we can be out of here in 14 days, Casey admitted.<\/p>\n
The bizarre situation left Kochie and Nat shocked.<\/p>\n
Oh my goodness, I cant believe it resets and then theres another 10 days, Barr said.<\/p>\n
Thats ridiculous isnt it.<\/p>\n
Kochie described the Williamsons situation as every familys worst nightmare.<\/p>\n
So as each person in our family tests positive, we have to spend 24 days in here. - Casey Williamson<\/p>\n
New Zealands Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) system has been in the spotlight in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is yet to ditch the scheme or move to home quarantine options despite COVID-19 circulating in the community and an adult vaccination rate over 90 per cent.<\/p>\n
New Zealanders have been forced to enter a lottery system to score a coveted spot in one of the limited number of rooms, with thousands missing out each time the online draw is held.<\/p>\n
The move makes New Zealand the only country in the world that still stops its citizens from returning to their home country.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, a pregnant journalist even had to ask the Taliban for help after the New Zealand government rejected her application to return home from Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Casey said while she was grateful her family got a spot in MIQ, she believes its time the cruel system was ditched.<\/p>\n
MIQ served New Zealand well at the beginning, but I think the toll is just starting to get too high for everybody, she said.<\/p>\n
There are thousands of Kiwis who have been stuck overseas now for years in far worse situations than us.<\/p>\n
Its just starting to get cruel, we cant stay isolated forever, we need to learn to live with the virus.<\/p>\n
The mum-of-three said she hopes her story creates awareness around the troubled MIQ system and will help others hoping to return home.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Ardern has indicated that she will make an announcement on the nations quarantine system this Thursday.<\/p>\n
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Sunrise hosts shocked by New Zealand COVID rules after family forced to spend month in quarantine | Sunrise - 7NEWS<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sunrise co-hosts Natalie Barr and David Koch have been left horrified by New Zealands ridiculous hotel quarantine system after speaking to a family stuck in isolation for a month. The Williamsons, consisting of mum Casey, dad Glen, and children Sam, Luca and Maya, flew into Auckland on January 16 after spending Christmas with family in Sydney. Continue reading