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All community cases in New Zealand’s second Covid-19 outbreak have recovered, with the health minister saying the virus has been “squashed.”
The news comes when the Ministry of Health announced that three new cases of the virus were detected in controlled isolation on Wednesday.
The ministry said all patients from the recent Auckland outbreak have recovered and there are no active cases left in the community.
“The Auckland August cluster will be officially closed when there are no new cases for two incubation periods since all cases were completely isolated,” the Health Ministry said in a statement.
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Two incubation periods for the virus are four weeks or 28 days.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins said the absence of active community cases was a “huge milestone.”
“New Zealanders have once again crushed the virus through their collective actions.”
RICKY WILSON / THINGS
On Tuesday three cases of coronavirus were detected in controlled isolation. (File photo)
But he also warned the country not to become complacent.
“This is very good news, but as always, we cannot remain calm. Constant vigilance and teamwork, with everyone playing their part to make sure we are aware of the virus, should be our new normal for some time to come. “
Hipkins said 186 community cases of coronavirus had been reported since Aug. 11: 179 people linked to the Auckland August group, six people linked to the Christchurch returnee group and a worker from a managed isolation facility at the Rydges Hotel.
“The August group from Auckland has been the largest by some margin, and it has required considerable effort from the entire healthcare system, and from all New Zealanders, to contain this outbreak so quickly,” he said.
Auckland University professor Shaun Hendy said there was a “very high probability” that the second outbreak had been eliminated.
He said the minister’s comments that New Zealand had “crushed” the virus were a fair assessment.
Hendy said that two incubation periods were the difference between being “very, very, very sure” and “very sure” that the virus had been killed.
“I would be extremely surprised if a case associated with that group reappeared,” he said.
“I hope it closes without more cases being detected.”
However, Hendy shared the minister’s view that New Zealanders could not become complacent.
He encouraged people to “keep playing their role” and get tested if they had any symptoms and continue to wear masks.
Epidemiologist Amanda Kvalsvig said her reaction to the news was slightly more cautious than the minister’s.
He said that the virus was a problem that the country had to solve and continue to solve. Since Covid-19 was so contagious, Kvalsvig said New Zealand was almost certain to have more outbreaks before the pandemic ended.
“It would be a terrible shame to relax now and create a welcoming environment for a major outbreak.
“Wearing masks on public transport and staying home when you are feeling unwell, for example, are simple actions that can make a big difference because they will work to contain the next outbreak before anyone realizes that the outbreak has started, “he said.
“Not having active cases in the community does not mean we are home and dry, but it is a good indication to Aotearoa New Zealand that our people and our systems are working well together to respond to outbreaks, and that is definitely something to be. happy for. “
Epidemiologist professor Michael Baker felt that there had been a “missed opportunity” of not having an alert level 1.5.
Elise Manahan / Supplied
Professor Shaun Hendy shares the view of Health Minister Chris Hipkins that the country should not become complacent despite the fact that there are no active community cases.
“A level 1.5 would be a continuous reminder that we cannot return to normal life.”
Two of the new cases announced Wednesday arrived from Ethiopia via Dubai on September 23. They have been in controlled isolation at the Ibis hotel in Hamilton and tested positive for the virus around day 12 of their stay.
The third case came from Dubai on September 29. They were in controlled isolation at the Four Points Hotel and were transferred to the Auckland Quarantine Facility, Jet Park, after obtaining a positive test result.
The total number of active New Zealand cases is now 37, all in managed isolation.
The total number of coronavirus cases in the country is 1505.
A person remains in a ward at Middlemore Hospital in South Auckland with the virus.
On Tuesday, the labs processed 5,334 tests, bringing the total completed to date to 990,973.
The news comes as Auckland prepares to move to alert level 1 at 11:59 pm Wednesday, which means the same rules will apply across the country.
Meeting size restrictions will be lifted and masks will no longer be necessary on public transportation, although they will continue to be recommended.
