Life at a Managed Isolation Facility Article by Deb Smalley
Today I am relieving at Novatel hotel at Christchurch Airport – a Managed Isolation Facility. The hotel is very new, and I have to say a pleasure to visit. The windows are all enormous and give stunning views of either the Port Hills or the Southern Alps. There are 190 souls here currently as ‘guests’ with 180 rooms available for use. There are another five MIF hotels in Christchurch. The New Zealand Defence Force manage operations with four staff living on site 24/7. Another team of four come in daily to lead security. Aviation security and private security provide the bulk of labour for security work in and around the hotel. There is a wellness team, whose job it is to, problem solve and offer support and advice. A medical team is here 24/7 also to monitor wellness and care for ill or injured people which is not limited to Covid patients. Then of course there are the hotel staff, management, cooks, cleaners and maintenance people. Lastly the Police - one officer at every hotel working in shifts around the clock. We are here for the power of arrest but only as an absolute last option if all else fails. Diplomacy is the preferred tactic here. Most folks are well behaved, considerate and thankful but there are always those who swim against the current and demand special treatment.
is a sensible daily limit imposed, and it can’t be purchased off site. If you don’t care for the daily menu, you can order delivered fast food at your own cost, or have the supermarket send groceries. In fact, within reason, you can order in most things except alcohol or a masseuse. Yes - someone did try that. Exercise consists of running or walking around the hotel behind a tall wire fence. You can just sit and enjoy the sun so long as everybody remains two metres from one another. Even the smokers can get outside for a puff. Guests are Covid tested at day three and again before release. All must remain physically well and return a negative result before being allowed to leave the hotel. A little boring certainly, but otherwise these folks are very well cared for, and will be delighted when released into the world once more at the end of 14 days. As a reward for my services, I too will have to be Covid tested, as do all staff who work at MIFs. That should be fun!
It’s not all bad - movies and endless internet. You can get alcohol, though there Page 49
