Niue Police are looking into 'concerning' reports of community members 'lingering' around MIQ facilities.
Premier Dalton Tagelagi said it is a worry, given the country has recorded two new cases of Covid-19 at the border, taking the total number of active cases at the border to six.
He has urged people not to chat with family members over the fence when dropping off food at MIQ facilities.
Niue Premier, Dalton Tagelagi Photo: RNZ Pacific / Jamie Tahana
"Everyone please, if you are going to see a loved one just go and drop off and stay away from those areas. [There is] nothing worse when we say no drop offs whatsoever. There should be a clear message to everyone because I am hearing some not very good news and at the moment. Police [are] going to look into some of these. It's serious to us because we try [to] protect, especially our officials," he said.
Director General of Social Services Gaylene Tasmania has reiterated that visits are not allowed at any facilities
"The instructions were, there is no visitation, that means you can't just stay and chat over the fence, [it] doesn't matter how far away it is, we don't want to be policing, we just don't have the resources to do that and worry about the spread," she said.
Tagelagi said the Cabinet will fast track measures to further protect the borders, including introducing a penalty for those who are dishonest on forms when they travel to Niue from New Zealand.
He said the new cases arrived on Monday March 22, on a flight from New Zealand.
"They are in the managed isolation facility, thank God it is two, it could have been more. We have the drive through testing stations open, please utilise that," he said.
Gaylene Tasmania told the Broadcasting Corporation of Niue all passengers traveling to Niue from New Zealand need to take more care when answering pre departure forms.
"We did ask passengers to [answer] truthfully those questions that you are given at the airport, meaning that if you have been positive at any time we need to know," she said.
"The way PCR [testing] works, it detects not just live virus… but also, historic cases that can be sitting in your system for a while".
The Premier is frustrated, he said people have not been listening to some of the instructions given.
"We are going to come [down] hard on those coming in on the next flight. They are just ignoring what officials have been asking them to do."
He said these are 'difficult times' but hopefully it will settle down soon.
