New Zealand Defence Force, medical team deployed to Niue after COVID-19 outbreak

By Lucy Craymer

WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand Defence Pressure mentioned on Wednesday it had flown a crew of civilian docs, nurses and defence power personnel together with private protecting gear to tiny pacific island Niue to assist with the nation’s COVID-19 outbreak.

Niue, a self governing state that’s in free affiliation with New Zealand, had saved COVID out of the group having largely closed its borders within the early days of the pandemic. Nevertheless, following its first quarantine-free flight on June 27 a variety of passengers examined optimistic for COVID.

The defence power mentioned in a press release it had additionally taken a generator on the flight as Niue had been coping with energy interruptions.

“As a South West Pacific nation, it is a crucial position for New Zealand’s Defence Pressure to allow this necessary assist to our neighbours,” mentioned Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour, Commander of the Joint Forces New Zealand.

In a separate assertion the New Zealand authorities mentioned the choice to ship the crew adopted a request for assist from the Niuean authorities.

Niue, which has a inhabitants of roughly 1,600 folks, is very vaccinated. Round 99% of these over the age of 5 are double vaccinated and 93% of these over the age of 18 are boosted, in accordance with the New Zealand authorities.

(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Enhancing by Simon Cameron-Moore)