Kia ora Andrew,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no COVID-19 outbreak at McMurdo Station.

The only COVID-19 in Antarctica is several thousand kilometres away on the other side of the continent.

Please find attached information from the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) with more information.

Antarctica New Zealand's protocols are:
- 2 weeks isolation pre deployment to Scott Base.
- 4 negative COVID-19 tests before travel to Scott Base
- Masks and social distancing at Scott Base until a further COVID-19 test returns negative.
- A traffic light system that includes isolating from the United States Antarctica Program participants as new cohorts arrive on ice
- Weekly health status reporting to New Zealand Government authorities

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by calling 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi nui

Megan Nicholl

Megan Nicholl (she/her)
GM Communications & People

E  [email address]
M  +64 27 2205 989
T   +64 3 358 0213

38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053
www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Li <[FOI #18106 email]>
Sent: Wednesday, 5 January 2022 8:40 PM
To: OIA/LGOIMA requests at New Zealand Antarctic Institute <[New Zealand Antarctic Institute request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - COVID policies

Dear New Zealand Antarctic Institute/'Antarctic NZ',

In light of the COVID outbreak at McMurdo Station:
1) What policies are in place for Scott Base to protect from infection from US personnel?
2) What policies are in place to ensure that Scott Base personnel who may have come into contact with Americans can be confirmed to be safe before returning to New Zealand?
3) Does the Antarctic Institute hold information in regards how infection will be prevented from infected US personnel transiting the US military base at Christchurch Airport?

Kind regards,
Andrew Li

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #18106 email]

Is [New Zealand Antarctic Institute request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to New Zealand Antarctic Institute? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________
Caution
The information contained in this email message is intended only
for the addressee and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of Antarctica New Zealand.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose,
copy, distribute or store this message or the information in it.
If you have received this message in error, please email or
telephone the sender immediately and delete the message. Thank you.

www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
___________________________________________________________________

hide quoted sections

Kia ora ano Andrew,

I have sent messages to gain the below information, but our folk are on annual leave.

I will respond to your request as soon as possible, and no longer than the required 20 days as under the Official Information Act.

Ngā mihi nui

Megan Nicholl

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Li <[FYI request #18106 email]>
Sent: Friday, 7 January 2022 8:50 AM
To: Megan Nicholl <[email address]>
Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - COVID policies

Thanks Megan,

I understand that it is the official American position currently that they currently have no infections.

To clarify the original questions:
2) What policies are in place to ensure that Scott Base personnel who may have come into contact with Americans can be confirmed to be safe before returning to New Zealand?
- Am I to understand from this response that testing of Scott Base personnel, and isolation from infected McMurdo Station personnel, will only occur when the Americans publicly disclose that infections to their personnel have been identified, and that Scott Base personnel returning to New Zealand will not be tested until/unless the Americans disclose that infections have been identified?

3) Does the Antarctic Institute hold information in regards how infection will be prevented from infected US personnel transiting the US military base at Christchurch Airport?
- Does the Antarctic Institute hold information on whether Americans will be allowed to bring COVID in through Christchurch Airport?

Yours sincerely,
Andrew Li

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Andrew,

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

To the best of my knowledge, there is no COVID-19 outbreak at McMurdo Station.

The only COVID-19 in Antarctica is several thousand kilometres away on the other side of the continent.

Please find attached information from the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) with more information.

Antarctica New Zealand's protocols are:
- 2 weeks isolation pre deployment to Scott Base.
- 4 negative COVID-19 tests before travel to Scott Base
- Masks and social distancing at Scott Base until a further COVID-19 test returns negative.
- A traffic light system that includes isolating from the United States Antarctica Program participants as new cohorts arrive on ice
- Weekly health status reporting to New Zealand Government authorities

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&a... or by calling 0800 802 602.

Ngā mihi nui

Megan Nicholl

Megan Nicholl (she/her)
GM Communications & People

E  [email address]
M  +64 27 2205 989
T   +64 3 358 0213

38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053
www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #18106 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________
Caution
The information contained in this email message is intended only
for the addressee and is not necessarily the official view or
communication of Antarctica New Zealand.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose,
copy, distribute or store this message or the information in it.
If you have received this message in error, please email or
telephone the sender immediately and delete the message. Thank you.

www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
___________________________________________________________________

hide quoted sections

Kia ora Andrew,

 

Ngā mihi mō tō imera.

 

To clarify my response, please see red text below:

 

2) What policies are in place to ensure that Scott Base personnel who may
have come into contact with Americans can be confirmed to be safe before
returning to New Zealand?

- Am I to understand from this response that testing of Scott Base
personnel, and isolation from infected McMurdo Station personnel, will
only occur when the Americans publicly disclose that infections to their
personnel have been identified, and that Scott Base personnel returning to
New Zealand will not be tested until/unless the Americans disclose that
infections have been identified?

 

·                     Antarctica New Zealand has regular weekly public
health status updates between all programmes in the Ross Sea region. If
there was a case of COVID-19 at any station, we would be informed
immediately.

·                     Antarctica New Zealand aligns with New Zealand’s
domestic situation and, if there was a suspected case at Scott Base, it
becomes a public health matter.

·                     Antarctica New Zealand would work closely with the
Canterbury District Health Board on any response.

·                     The case would immediately isolate and undergo PCR
testing.

·                     If COVID-19 was confirmed, Antarctica New Zealand
would work with the Canterbury District Health Board and other Ross Sea
region partners to decide if we continue to isolate the case, or medevac
back to New Zealand.

 

Antarctica New Zealand’s protocols:

·                     All travellers to Scott Base must be vaccinated

·                     2 weeks strict isolation pre deployment to Scott
Base

·                     4 negative COVID-19 tests before travel to Scott
Base

·                     Masks and social distancing at Scott Base until a
further COVID-19 test returns negative

·                     A traffic light system that includes isolating from
other Program participants as new cohorts arrive on ice

·                     Weekly health status reporting to New Zealand
Government authorities

 

3) Does the Antarctic Institute hold information in regards how infection
will be prevented from infected US personnel transiting the US military
base at Christchurch Airport?

- Does the Antarctic Institute hold information on whether Americans will
be allowed to bring COVID in through Christchurch Airport?

o For any information regarding the [1]United States Antarctic Program,
please contact them directly.

 

Please also refer to [2]COMNAP for COVID-19 Outbreak Prevention and
Management Response.

 

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about
how to make a complaint is available at [3]Ombudsman New Zealand | Tari o
te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata (ombudsman.parliament.nz) or by calling 0800 802
602.

 

Ngā mihi nui

 

Megan Nicholl

 

 

 

 

[4]cid:image001.png@01D5B664.DA983290 Megan Nicholl ([5]she/her)

GM Communications & People
E  [6][email address]

M  +64 27 2205 989

T   +64 3 358 0213
38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053

[7]www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Li <[8][FOI #18106 email]>
Sent: Friday, 7 January 2022 8:50 AM
To: Megan Nicholl <[9][email address]>
Subject: Re: FW: Official Information request - COVID policies

 

Thanks Megan,

 

I understand that it is the official American position currently that they
currently have no infections.

 

To clarify the original questions:

2) What policies are in place to ensure that Scott Base personnel who may
have come into contact with Americans can be confirmed to be safe before
returning to New Zealand?

- Am I to understand from this response that testing of Scott Base
personnel, and isolation from infected McMurdo Station personnel, will
only occur when the Americans publicly disclose that infections to their
personnel have been identified, and that Scott Base personnel returning to
New Zealand will not be tested until/unless the Americans disclose that
infections have been identified?

 

3) Does the Antarctic Institute hold information in regards how infection
will be prevented from infected US personnel transiting the US military
base at Christchurch Airport?

- Does the Antarctic Institute hold information on whether Americans will
be allowed to bring COVID in through Christchurch Airport?

 

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Li

 

-----Original Message-----

 

Kia ora Andrew,

 

Thank you for your Official Information Act request.

 

To the best of my knowledge, there is no COVID-19 outbreak at McMurdo
Station.

 

The only COVID-19 in Antarctica is several thousand kilometres away on the
other side of the continent.

 

Please find attached information from the Council of Managers of National
Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) with more information.

 

Antarctica New Zealand's protocols are:

- 2 weeks isolation pre deployment to Scott Base.

- 4 negative COVID-19 tests before travel to Scott Base

- Masks and social distancing at Scott Base until a further COVID-19 test
returns negative.

- A traffic light system that includes isolating from the United States
Antarctica Program participants as new cohorts arrive on ice

- Weekly health status reporting to New Zealand Government authorities

 

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to seek an
investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about
how to make a complaint is available at
[10]http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&a...
or by calling 0800 802 602.

 

Ngā mihi nui

 

Megan Nicholl

 

 

 

 

 

Megan Nicholl (she/her)

GM Communications & People

 

E  [email address]

M  +64 27 2205 989

T   +64 3 358 0213

 

38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053

[11]www.antarcticanz.govt.nz

Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:

[12][FOI #18106 email]

 

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:

[13]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&...

 

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

All visitors to Antarctica New Zealand’s Christchurch premises are required to
provide a valid NZ COVID Vaccine Pass and scan our QR Code on entry.
More detailed Information can be found at [14]antarcticanz.govt.nz
                                Caution
                      
The information contained in this email is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication
of Antarctica New Zealand.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, copy
distribute or store this message or the information in it.
If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone
the sender immediately and delete the message. Thank you.
 
            www.antarcticanz.govt.nz

References

Visible links
1. https://www.usap.gov/492/
2. https://www.comnap.aq/
3. https://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
5. https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-wo...
6. mailto:[email address]
7. http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/
8. mailto:[FOI #18106 email]
9. mailto:[email address]
10. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&a...
11. http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/
12. mailto:[FOI #18106 email]
13. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&...
14. https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/contact...

hide quoted sections

Kia ora ano,

To date, there have been no reported cases of COVID-19 by any of the Ross Sea partners.

National Antarctic Programmes wanting to travel through New Zealand must work through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with New Zealand health authorities. The same border requirements apply for any National Antarctic Programme travelling through New Zealand as per the COMNAP guidelines as provided to you in an earlier email.

Any COVID-19 community outbreak in Christchurch would be handled by the Ministry of Health.

Ngā mihi nui

Megan Nicholl

-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew Li <[FYI request #18106 email]>
Sent: Monday, 14 February 2022 2:28 PM
To: Megan Nicholl <[email address]>
Subject: RE: Official Information request - COVID policies

Thanks Megan,

So, to confirm:
1) The Americans have not yet disclosed the COVID outbreak at McMurdo station.
2) You profess to hold no information about how further COVID transmission from infected American personnel traveling through Christchurch will be prevented.

Regards,
Andrew

-----Original Message-----

Kia ora Andrew,

 

Ngā mihi mō tō imera.

 

To clarify my response, please see red text below:

 

2) What policies are in place to ensure that Scott Base personnel who may have come into contact with Americans can be confirmed to be safe before returning to New Zealand?

- Am I to understand from this response that testing of Scott Base personnel, and isolation from infected McMurdo Station personnel, will only occur when the Americans publicly disclose that infections to their personnel have been identified, and that Scott Base personnel returning to New Zealand will not be tested until/unless the Americans disclose that infections have been identified?

 

·                     Antarctica New Zealand has regular weekly public health status updates between all programmes in the Ross Sea region. If there was a case of COVID-19 at any station, we would be informed immediately.

·                     Antarctica New Zealand aligns with New Zealand’s domestic situation and, if there was a suspected case at Scott Base, it becomes a public health matter.

·                     Antarctica New Zealand would work closely with the Canterbury District Health Board on any response.

·                     The case would immediately isolate and undergo PCR testing.

·                     If COVID-19 was confirmed, Antarctica New Zealand would work with the Canterbury District Health Board and other Ross Sea region partners to decide if we continue to isolate the case, or medevac back to New Zealand.

 

Antarctica New Zealand’s protocols:

·                     All travellers to Scott Base must be vaccinated

·                     2 weeks strict isolation pre deployment to Scott Base

·                     4 negative COVID-19 tests before travel to Scott Base

·                     Masks and social distancing at Scott Base until a further COVID-19 test returns negative

·                     A traffic light system that includes isolating from other Program participants as new cohorts arrive on ice

·                     Weekly health status reporting to New Zealand Government authorities

 

3) Does the Antarctic Institute hold information in regards how infection will be prevented from infected US personnel transiting the US military base at Christchurch Airport?

- Does the Antarctic Institute hold information on whether Americans will be allowed to bring COVID in through Christchurch Airport?

o For any information regarding the [1]United States Antarctic Program, please contact them directly.

 

Please also refer to [2]COMNAP for COVID-19 Outbreak Prevention and Management Response.

 

If you are unhappy with this response, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Office of the Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at [3]Ombudsman New Zealand | Tari o te Kaitiaki Mana Tangata (http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&a...) or by calling 0800 802 602.

 

Ngā mihi nui

 

Megan Nicholl

 

 

 

 

[4]cid:image001.png@01D5B664.DA983290 Megan Nicholl ([5]she/her)

GM Communications & People
E  [6][email address]

M  +64 27 2205 989

T   +64 3 358 0213
38 Orchard Road, Christchurch 8053

[7]www.antarcticanz.govt.nz
Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FYI request #18106 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=13647&...

If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

_________________________________________________________

All visitors to Antarctica New Zealands Christchurch premises are required to provide a valid NZ COVID Vaccine Pass and scan our QR Code on entry.
More detailed Information can be found at https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/contact...

Caution.
The information contained in this email is intended only for the
addressee and is not necessarily the official view or communication
of Antarctica New Zealand.
If you are not the intended recipient you must not use, disclose, copy
distribute or store this message or the information in it.
If you have received this message in error, please email or telephone
the sender immediately and delete the message. Thank you.

___________________________________________________________________

[ FYI note: The above text was badly encoded, and has had strange characters removed. ]

hide quoted sections