The West Indies cricket squad will be banned from training and confined to hotel rooms after committing multiple breaches of New Zealand quarantine rules. New Zealand health authorities used CCTV to capture rule-breaking from the touring party, including sharing meals and mingling in groups.
As they prepare for an upcoming series with the Black Caps, the West Indies were afforded a similar modified quarantine arrangement as the Wallabies when getting ready for the Bledisloe Cup last month.
All players and support staff passed their initial two Covid tests, allowing them to train at Lincoln University together, away from the Christchurch hotel they have called home for the past 12 days.
But those freedoms have been reined in by Kiwi health authorities who are following the letter of the law while trying to maintain New Zealand’s Covid-free status.
“It is a privilege to come here but in return they have to stick to the rules,” the director general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, said. “Keeping Covid-19 out of our communities and keeping our staff safe depends on it. They didn’t do that, despite agreeing to abide by the parameters of the exemption.”
New Zealand Cricket said it supported the ban. The good news for the West Indies is they will not be confined for long. Friday is the end to their 14-day mandatory isolation regime, meaning they will be tested today and released before the weekend if no issues arise.
Bloomfield cautioned if there were any concerns their stay in quarantine could be lengthened.