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There are 19 new cases of Covid-19 in controlled isolation, including six cases of the rapidly spreading UK strain of the virus.
The Ministry of Health confirmed today that six positive cases of Covid-19 have been found that match the recently identified UK variant.
“All six cases, five of which traveled from the UK and one that traveled from South Africa, arrived in New Zealand between December 13 and 25 and underwent routine tests in controlled isolation as part of surveillance testing. routine or because they developed symptoms. ” said the ministry.
“Once positive was confirmed, they were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility. Four of these cases are now recovered and, after a final medical check, they were able to leave the facility,” the ministry said.
“The UK variant is more transmissible than other variants of the virus, but there is no evidence at this stage that the length of the period of infection is different from any other variant of Covid-19, nor is it more likely to produce serious illness. “. ” He said.
What is the UK strain and how dangerous is it?
The variant, called ‘VUI – 202012/01’, carries a set of mutations that include an N501Y mutation in part of the genetic sequence that makes up the spike protein – small adherent rods that adhere to human cells. Any change in the shape of the spike protein could make it difficult for the immune system to detect. The virus uses the spike protein to bind to the human ACE2 receptor.
UK government scientists are studying it in labs, but there is no evidence to suggest that it is more likely to cause serious illness. However, if it can bind more easily to human cells, it can spread faster, and people could end up with a higher viral load.
British professor Lawrence Young, who is also an expert in molecular oncology, said the new variant does “two things” that make it more transmissible.
The Warwick School of Medicine academic said: “One is that it is entering the body more efficiently and it appears to be because this change (mutation) that has occurred in the spike protein increases the strength of the interaction. of the virus with the cells of our body – increase the stickiness if desired.
“There is also data reported last week by Nervtag (The New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group) and it seems that where you see this virus infection, people are also producing more: there are higher virus loads in the throat.” .
Scientists have said that the mutated coronavirus strain could more easily infect children and Professor Young added that preliminary research suggests this is also due to its “stickiness.”
He said that children have fewer receptors that pick up the old variant of the coronavirus, which means they are less likely to contract it, but the new variant “could compensate for the lower levels of that receptor or that gate to the virus in children by being stickier. ” .
However, there is currently no evidence that this variant, or any other variant studied to date, has any impact on the severity of the disease.
19 border cases: where they come from:
One is historical. This person arrived on December 19 from the United States via Australia. This person tested positive for routine tests around day 12 and remains in quarantine at a facility in Hamilton.
• One case arrived on December 20 from India via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. This person tested positive for routine tests around day 12 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 23 from the UK via Singapore. This person tested positive after symptoms appeared on day 8 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 24 from India via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. This person tested positive around day 6 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 27 from the UK via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. This person tested positive during routine tests around day 3 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 28 from the United States. This person tested positive during routine tests around day 3 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 29 from the United Kingdom via the United Arab Emirates. This person tested positive after symptoms appeared on day 2 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 29 from the UK via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. This person tested positive during routine tests around day 3 and was transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 29 from the UK and tested positive during routine tests around the third day. They were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 29 from Denmark via the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. This person tested positive after symptoms appeared on day 1 and is in the Auckland quarantine facility.
• Two cases, traveling together, arrived on December 29 from the UK via Qatar. They tested positive during routine tests around day 3 and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• Four suitcases, traveling separately, arrived on December 29 from the UK via the United Arab Emirates. They tested positive during routine tests around day 3 and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 29 from the Seychelles via the United Arab Emirates. They tested positive during routine tests around day 3 and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 29 from South Africa via Singapore. They tested positive during routine tests around day 3 and were transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
• One case arrived on December 31 from the United States. This person tested positive on day 0/1 of routine testing and is in a Christchurch quarantine facility.
It comes as it has been revealed that all UK or US travelers will need a negative virus test before departing for New Zealand.
The new rules will go into effect from January 15 and Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says that work is already underway to extend the requirement to other long-haul flights to New Zealand.
