Risk mitigations to support the safe re-opening of the Pullman Managed Isolation Facility
Recommendation 1: the Pullman’s corridor fresh air ventilation system should be operated 24 hours per day. This was implemented on 27 January;
Recommendation 2: prior to opening hotel room doors, returnees should close all windows and trickle vents to encourage air to move from the corridor into the room. This guidance was issued to returnees at the Pullman on 31 January.
We consider that operating the corridor ventilation system 24 hours a day, as opposed to the 2 hours of operation which was standard at the time of the incidents, will have a significant impact on reducing the risk of airborne transmission in corridors.
23. Lifts have been associated with one transmission event in the Pullman. Lifts were also associated with an earlier transmission event in 2020.
Pullman Incident Review TAG advised that as closed and confined spaces with poor ventilation and high-usage, lifts are the highest risk common areas in all MIQFs in terms of aerosolised transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
Planning is underway to install HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration units inside the three returnee-accessible lifts at the Pullman, with work expected to be completed by 22 February (i.e a week after the first returnees are expected to arrive at the Pullman).
27. Wider roll-out of HEPA filtration units in other MIQFs is part of a large piece of work that is already underway (HR 20210071 refers).
This includes assessments of airflow within spaces to ascertain which units are required, how many units are required, and where they are best placed. The installation of units within the Pullman lifts will be valuable in informing the wider roll out.
21. Some airborne virus may be generated when those infected with COVID-19 have a bowel movement On site assessments of the bathroom exhaust fans at the Pullman are being planned to further to understand the contribution of this mechanism.
We aim to complete this assessment by 19 February. The NZ Building Code refers to a NZ standard (fresh air) and an Australian standard (exhaust air) for the Acceptable Solution for
venti ation. This allows for a minimum of 25 L/s exhaust.
venti ation. This allows for a minimum of 25 L/s exhaust.
38. At the time of the transmission events at the Pullman, MIQF staff were required to use an N95/P2 particulate respirator only in close interactions with a confirmed (or probable) case of COVID-19.
In practice, this applied to interactions in a quarantine facility/quarantine zone of a dua -use MIQF, or when transferring a recently identified case from a MIF to a quarantine facility/quarantine zone of a dual-use MIQF.
39. On 30 January, the Ministry of Health issued urgent guidance for immediate implementation that MIQF staff are to use an N95/P2 particulate respirator during any close interaction (less than 2m physical distancing) of any returnee.
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