Isolating at home
Nov 15, 2021
In August 2021, the Government endorsed a self-isolation pilot for returning vaccinated travellers who have not been to very high-risk countries with a goal of safely re-opening our borders and developing new ways for people to travel again.
If the pilot is successful, the RoomMate Cabin could become a useful tool to allow more people to return home to New Zealand without the requirement to enter Managed Isolation and Quarantine (MIQ) facilities.
The business home isolation pilot
According to the Government, the self-isolation pilot must be in a private dwelling with no shared ventilation system. Pilot participants must remain in their place of self-isolation for at least 14 days, and they will not be allowed to leave the property at any time, so the dwelling must have cellular coverage.
They must isolate alone, or together with others from the same travelling party. They cannot isolate with family or any other household members. They must not allow any visitors to enter the premises, aside from medical staff for testing purposes and emergency or other essential services if required such as contactless food delivery.
Self-isolation
Self-isolation involves isolating away from other members of your household, ideally with no physical contact, minimal time in shared spaces and without shared items such as cutlery and linen, whilst remaining in your own home.
The pilot is in line with an “interim approach” from the Government that has seen large numbers of people with COVID-19 now being allowed to isolate at home, rather than in MIQ facilities. This was while the Government finalised plans of an at-home isolation programme that had been previously signalled.
Home isolation on the way
The Government will ease border restrictions in mid-November 2021, halving the time overseas arrivals spend in MIQ facility to 7 days followed by home isolation – around 3 days – until they return a negative day 9 test.
Phased easing of border restrictions will see home isolation instead of MIQ increasingly used for vaccinated overseas arrivals in the first quarter of 2022 at the latest.
The phased approach gives the Government time to evaluate the technology that will be used to monitor home isolation compliance in the business home isolation pilot, which starts at the end of October 2021.
RoomMate Cabins, an isolation option?
So, with these moves signalling a clear shift to isolation at home, a RoomMate Cabin could provide a space at your place to allow your loved ones carry out their quarantine period at home while adhering to COVID-19 protocols.
What happens after isolation?
The beauty of a RoomMate Cabin is its versatility. Not everyone will have a line of people returning home from overseas or needing home isolation, but once your portable cabin is on site the options area endless. Here are a couple of ideas you can consider in some of our other blogs:
Six creative ways to use a RoomMate Cabin
Working from home during lockdown and beyond
RoomMate Cabins – an easier solution than a DIY build
Get in touch today
Whatever your needs, or the needs in the future a RoomMate cabin can provide you with a safe space for you and your loved ones, give us a call on 0800 111 344 or contact your nearest RoomMate Cabins supplier today.