Thirteen foreign mariners who are quarantining in Christchurch at a $70,000 cost may have caught Covid-19 before leaving for New Zealand or while they were on their way here, health officials say. Sixteen of the 18 crew from the Playa Zahara fishing vessel tested positive for Covid-19 last week. Thirteen crew members, including the two who tested negative, have been transferred to the quarantine wing of the Sudima Hotel near Christchurch Airport. A normal stay in quarantine for 13 people in separate rooms would cost $71,760, according to the current charges for managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ). An MIQ spokeswoman directed Stuff to this page when asked to clarify how much the mariners’ stay would cost.

Source: Stuff July 19, 2021 20:35 UTC