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This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles suspects that the latest community case of Covid-19 could have been contracted through a surface in a cafe.
Braden Fastier / Stuff
Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles suspects that the latest community case may have been contracted through a surface in a café.
Work is underway to try to trace how a woman in her 20s, who lives and works in CBD, contracted the virus.
Some 100,000 Auckland residents who work in the CBD have been asked to work from home today.
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Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said early genomic test results suggested a link to the Defense Forces group identified a week ago.
Wiles said Nine at noon the timing and location seemed to suggest a link to the Defense Forces group and that finding the source would help stop further spread.
“One of the Defense Force workers had eaten in the CBD on Thursday and this person, who lives in the CBD and works throughout that area, had symptoms on Monday,” he said. “So the timing seems absolutely correct, that somewhere in there that transmission has occurred.”
Although it is more likely to be spread by close contact between people, Wiles said that a surface such as railings or doors could have been a transmission point in this case.
Genome sequencing can prove these occurrences and pinpoint exactly how it spread.
A map and timeline of where the person with the Auckland Mystery Case visited and possible locations where the virus could have spread.
He said it would be beneficial if sequencing efforts were faster and urged the government to use more Covid-19 genome sequencing facilities to speed up the process.
“Right now everything is sent to the Environmental Science and Research Institute and, depending on where the case is, that could mean a delay of several hours to get the sample to where it is going to sequence.
“We may be able to accelerate that by the fact that we have sequencing facilities across the country. It is very possible that we can cut down a few more hours and avoid people having a more or less worried night.”
He was hopeful that a lockdown would not be required, but said that in the next few days people should take precautions and get used to sticking to protocols like the covid app for the foreseeable future.
“It may well be that we have to go up to level 2 or something, which puts more emphasis on people doing physical distance and this kind of thing.
“With what we are also lucky in this case is that the person who presented the symptoms has not been in any important event, which would suggest that there may be more cases. It is really important that we continue to use the application so that we can be informed very fast if we were exposed. “
Wiles said that customers of the store where the woman worked would have been informed immediately. The app and other protocols should be a part of life for the next year, he said.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
Vincent Residences on Vincent St in Auckland’s CBD, where the well-known Covid case lives.
Auckland mystery Covid-19 case ‘more like August outbreak’
Earlier, epidemiologist Michael Baker said Morning report The latest community case of Covid-19 had similarities to the outbreak in Auckland in August and there were likely other unknown cases.
Baker said it would be good news if there was a relatively short chain of transmission, but it would not change the fact that there must be other unknown cases.
“Even if it has the same genome sequencing as the Defense Forces group, that still doesn’t tell us that it definitely came from there.
“There could still be some other source, because bloodlines are not necessarily unique.
“It helps, but we still want to know what those other cases are.”
Baker said there could be multiple cases.
“It’s much more like the August outbreak in Auckland that we had that it was quite difficult to control. It took a few weeks.”
The University of Otago epidemiologist said some additional controls were needed, up to a potentially higher level than 2.
New Zealand’s approach to previous outbreaks has been effective, he said.
“What sets New Zealand apart is a quick and vigorous response to outbreaks … and I think we will need something similar here, unfortunately.
“It works. It’s tough, but I think now we should have instantly moved to something like a 1.5 level. We don’t have it yet, but I think we should introduce it.”
That could include limiting large public gatherings and making wearing masks mandatory on public transportation.
He said that, indeed, there had already been a change in the alert level.
“As soon as I tell people to work from home, wear masks, etc., we are effectively raising the alert level.”
This story was originally published on RNZ.co.nz and republished with permission.
