Covid 19 coronavirus: new virus strains in the UK and South Africa scare experts

The new variants of Covid-19 have spooked experts, with renewed calls for New Zealand to consider closing its border to certain nations that have lost control of the virus.

Four new cases of Covid-19 were reported yesterday, all in controlled isolation, bringing the total number of active cases in New Zealand to 77.

That came on the back of Sunday’s Health Ministry report of 31 new cases since Thursday, January 7.

The first case of a South African strain has recently been detected at the border, while there are at least 19 cases in controlled isolation connected to a highly infectious, rapidly spreading strain of the virus that has taken hold in the UK.

Duty Minister Peeni Henare said the government has been working during the summer period to keep abreast of the new tensions and the worsening world situation.

He said the government would not hesitate to introduce more protections as needed.

The latest actions it has taken include introducing Day 0 tests for those from higher risk countries and, starting Friday, pre-departure tests before returnees from the UK and the US can enter the New Zealand starting Friday.

He said the government is “looking closely” at other long-haul routes.

The medical director of the Royal New Zealand College of Physicians, Bryan Betty, told 1 News that he is very concerned about the emergence of new strains of the virus.

He said the situation has changed rapidly in recent weeks, and that countries have lost control of the virus.

“We have to think a lot about the number of people who come from those countries that have lost control over this variant of Covid. That may mean reducing the number of people entering the country from places like the United Kingdom, such as the United States, like South Africa. “

Meanwhile, epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker has also said that New Zealand may need to close its border with the UK if cases of the new variant continue to rise.

“I am very concerned, and this is possibly the most dangerous phase we have been in since the August outbreak in Auckland,” he told the Herald.

The new strain forced the UK to lockdown again, amid fears that its healthcare system would be overwhelmed, while confirmed deaths in the country have exceeded 80,000.

Experts say that the new variant in the UK could infect three people, as opposed to the previous variant that infects two, meaning it would spread much faster through the community.

Covid-19 data modeling expert Shaun Hendy shared a similar warning with RNZ, to the effect that the highest level of New Zealand lockdown levels would likely be needed if a community outbreak of the variant of the UK or South Africa in New Zealand.

“Level 3 was effective in August … but I think if you factor in the additional infectivity of these new variants, level 3 is probably not strong enough.”

Meanwhile, desperate Kiwis trying to secure a place in New Zealand’s managed isolation facilities have turned to a new computer program capable of booking coupons as soon as they appear.

1 News said the new system has made around 20 bookings so far for people in the UK, Australia and Southeast Asia.

The creator of the system told 1 News that he is not the only one doing it.

New Zealand has 4,500 MIQ rooms in total, but there will be just over 4,600 bookings next month, 1 News reported.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment said that it oversold because not everyone who has vouchers will end up using them.

The National Party has urged the government to speed up the launch of the vaccine given the increased risk of the new variants devastating the UK and South Africa.

Party leader Judith Collins wants the government to consider emergency-use vaccine provisions for essential border workers “before it’s too late.”

“New Zealand has lagged the rest of the world with its vaccine program and the government needs to explain why,” Collins said.

Henare said the situation in New Zealand is different from other countries as we currently have no community transmission.

“We are working hard to keep it that way and we don’t take anything for granted.

“We hope to be in a position to begin vaccinating frontline workers from April 2021 and the public in the second half of the year.”

He said New Zealand’s Medsafe is working closely with its Australian counterpart, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), regarding the data both agencies are receiving from pharmaceutical companies on vaccines and any approval decisions made by Australia. .