The Crowne Plaza in Christchurch’s CBD will operate as a managed isolation facility from Wednesday.

This will bring the total number of managed isolation facilities operating across New Zealand to 32, with six in Christchurch.

A managed isolation and quarantine spokesman says the Canterbury Regional Isolation and Quarantine team will be working with the Crowne Plaza to prepare the facility for returnees from tomorrow, with returnees set to arrive from Wednesday 19 August.

He says the Crowne Plaza will be used solely as a managed isolation and quarantine facility and will comprise 168 isolation rooms as well as 12 quarantine rooms.

The spokesman says there will be strong security measures in place with fencing around all exits and a 24/7 Police presence, along with New Zealand Defence Force and security staff who are on site at all times.  

All DHBs have been requested to make provision to quarantine people in their communities if required by the Medical Officer of Health. 

He says it is not anticipated that community cases from outside the Canterbury DHB region will need to be accommodated at the Crowne Plaza at this time.

The spokesperson says “ managed isolation and quarantine facilities have strict procedures in place to ensure they are operating safely and are carefully and securely managed.”

“The Crowne Plaza facility is situated in close proximity to the Distinction, which is already operating as a managed isolation facility.”

 The hotels are stand-alone facilities and there are no shared public spaces or facilities with other members of the community.

None of the amenities at the hotels such as restaurants or conference rooms are available to members of the public or domestic guests – our policy is for exclusive use of the hotels.

Managed isolation and quarantine facilities currently operating in Christchurch include Chateau on the Park, Commodore Hotel Christchurch, Distinction Christchurch, Novotel Christchurch Airport and Sudima Christchurch Airport.