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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
Public health experts are closely watching the arrival of a highly contagious new strain of Covid-19 at New Zealand managed quarantine and isolation facilities.
So far, six cases of the recently identified UK variant, which is up to 70% more infectious than previous strains, have been reported in MIQ..
Health experts are on the lookout for new strain developments at New Zealand’s managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
The new variant, known as the B117, has a higher playback, or R number, which leads to a higher transmission rate.
The University of Auckland epidemiologist Rod Jackson said that while other strains generally infected two or three others, the new type meant that one person could infect three or four others.
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“That just multiplies, those three or four people will infect three or four more. You can see that it is rapidly moving away from you, which is what we are seeing all over the world right now.”
The new variant is not proving to be any more deadly than previous ones, but Professor Jackson said this did not mean it was less of a threat.
“The more people who are infected, the more people will have severe symptoms and the more people will die, and the more likely our health services will be overwhelmed.”
He applauded the additional measures implemented by the government to block the virus in the country.
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University of Auckland epidemiologist Rod Jackson said that while other strains generally infected two or three others, the new type meant that one person could infect three or four others.
As of January 15, anyone arriving from the UK and the US will need to prove negative less than 72 hours before departure.
All those returnees will also be evaluated within 24 hours of their return to the country and will be asked to isolate themselves until they obtain the result of this test.
But he said anyone coming from a country with community spread should have a quick test at the airport before departure.
Overall, he believed that there was no perfect pandemic response, but current processes needed to be carried out with renewed vigilance in light of the new strain.
This included the entire journey, from before someone got on a plane to fly here to the process at the managed isolation facility.
“We need to make sure we do better,” said Professor Jackson.
In particular, he said that people needed to redouble their use of the Covid tracking app.
ROBERT KITCHEN
Health CEO Ashley Bloomfield said people with the most transmissible strain are treated the same as everyone else.
New Zealand Nurses Organization (NZNO) associate director for professional services, Kate Weston, said the variant arriving in the country is not a surprise.
He said the country’s isolated location was an advantage and allowed health services to prepare before the strain made its way here.
Weston said the NZNO had consistently pushed for adequate PPE availability and that a review was underway to ensure the N95 masks provided protection against the new strain.
“We are checking if N95 [masks] they are enough or if we have to look for something more protective depending on the infectivity of that new strain of virus “.
E tū union’s chief of aviation, Savage, understood that the variant was unlikely to be broadcast in a new way.
“That just means that border workers and avatars workers just have to redouble their efforts and be especially vigilant that all health and safety systems are followed, and that there are no accidental gaps or breaches of the system itself.”
Chief Health Officer Ashley Bloomfield said Sunday that people with the new type received the same treatment as those infected with other strains.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said that the new strain does not present an increased risk to the community.
A spokesperson for MIQ said robust processes were in place to prevent the spread, such as the strict use of PPE, and these controls were constantly revised as more is learned about the virus.
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
