Wellington, New Zealand – The first case of New Zealand coronavirus in the community in more than two months has been identified as the more contagious South African variant, causing Australia to suspend quarantine-free travel from the neighboring country for at least 72 hours.
A 56-year-old New Zealander, who recently returned from Europe, tested positive for the infectious species on Saturday, 10 days after completing her mandatory two weeks in isolation.
New Zealand is critically acclaimed for its response to the pandemic, with only 25 deaths from 1,927 confirmed virus cases out of a population of five million.
The latter case is New Zealand’s first case in the community since mid-November and is classified as a species said to be more communicable, and possibly resistant to the COVID-19 vaccines is currently being rolled out around the world.
CBS News
“The strain of infection is the South African variety and the source of infection is most likely a co-returner,” said Health Minister Chris Hipkins.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was a case of “grave concern” and that the increased possibility of transfer had prompted his government to suspend the “travel bubble” with New Zealand for at least 72 hours.
“This will be done out of an abundance of caution as more is learned about the event and the case,” he told reporters in Canberra.
“The changes will take effect immediately.”
Hunt urged New Zealanders on a flight to Australia within the next three days to “reconsider their need to travel,” as – like other international arrivals – they must be quarantined for up to 14 days after arrival.
The woman was allegedly infected during quarantine by a person on the same floor of the hotel who tested positive two days before the woman left.
Peter Meecham / AP
The 56-year-old traveled through the Northland region of Auckland after her release from quarantine and showed symptoms for several days before being tested.
Two people in her area, including her husband, have since returned negative tests, and New Zealand’s Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said they were unlikely to have contracted the disease due to the type of infection.
“She wasn’t talking about respiratory symptoms, it was more muscle pain, so she may not have shared or spread the virus much,” he said.
“I don’t think that’s peculiar about this variant, it’s just how it expressed in this woman.”
The World Health Organization has said there is no clear evidence that the South African variant leads to more serious illness or a higher death rate, but researchers from the country’s main government laboratory have told CBS News that it appears to be highly resistant to the antibodies that it contains created by a previous infection. with the original coronavirus strain.
That has fueled concerns that it could be resistant to current vaccines, which rely on antibodies to prevent serious infections with the disease.
Another strain of the coronavirus, first discovered in southern England and already spreading around the world much faster than the South African variety is believed to be, can be more deadly, the British Prime Minister said Friday.