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New Zealand is considered a model nation in terms of protection measures against the crown. The country is practically crown free. A Swiss couple, of all people, recently overridden security protocols and brought the virus into the country.
On November 20, New Zealand health authorities released a report on the incident. According to this, an infected passenger on an Emirates flight from Dubai to Auckland on September 28 infected seven fellow travelers. This was despite the passenger having submitted a negative test and a mask was required on board.
It was not clear at first who brought the virus onto the plane. According to the Washington Post, the virus strain was referring to a Covid-19 mutation that can be found in Switzerland beforehand. Soon “Patient Zero” was identified aboard the 18-hour flight. Of the 85 fellow travelers, he had infected seven more. Five of them had tested negative 48 hours before the flight.
“Patient zero”
The couple, who came from Switzerland, received a negative corona test on September 24. After landing in Auckland, the passengers went into legally required quarantine. Then one of the Swiss suddenly developed symptoms, which soon after also appeared in the companion and other passengers. According to the investigation report, all the infected passengers sat together: a maximum of two rows in front of or behind the Swiss couple.
The Swiss passenger in question was asymptomatic before departure and during his journey. Despite the infection that was carried to New Zealand, the pathogen did not spread further because arriving travelers had to be quarantined for 14 days and all cases were treated equally.
Airline shock absorber
But the incident spells a brake on airlines awaiting rapid corona tests. This should make the flies corona-proof again, keep passengers away from fear of infection, and make quarantine unnecessary. As the Emirates incident shows, such tests continue to have weaknesses. There is some risk of incubation even with a negative test result.
The New Zealand study claims that the transmissions were made aboard the Boeing 777 despite wearing masks and other protective measures. In addition, cabins are disinfected by special crews before and after flights, while special HEPA filters on board provide cleaner air than in operating rooms.
Swiss does not want to lose hope in rapid tests: “In certain cases, the combination of a rapid test before departure and another after arrival can be a useful way,” the airline told the “Sunday newspaper”. This is intended to “guarantee a particularly high level of protection in risk areas”. (kes)
