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Summary
- New South African variant of COVID-19 found in New Zealand.
- Experts closely monitoring COVID-19 variants of the UK and South Africa.
- Authorities say a Lockdown 4 may be required to contain these from spreading.
New Zealand now has both -- the UK variant of COVID-19 and a new case of South African variant. Even though the cases are in managed isolation facilities, it is a cause for worry for the NZ authorities.
The variant from South Africa
The new strain of COVID-19 virus is likely to be 40-70% more transmissible than others. It spreads much faster — something that poses a big challenge as to how to control the disease.
Public health experts are worried. In the last three days itself, there were 31 new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand's managed isolation facilities, taking the total active cases to 75. Out of these, almost a quarter are linked to the UK variant.
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While the South African strain is not as much infectious as the UK variant, it is certainly more transmissible than the original one. However, this new strain is also being closely monitored.
If variants spread in the community, Lockdown 4 will be necessary
According to the authorities, if there is a community outbreak of variant, a Level 4 lockdown would be needed to bring in control.
Even though Lockdown 3 in August was effective as the original strain of COVID-19 was not as infectious, now with these two highly transmissible new variants, Lockdown 4 might be imposed.
Government tightening steps
While Australia is stiffening its MIQ rules after the UK variant was found in its community, even the New Zealand government has taken some steps. The authorities announced last week that passengers coming from the United States and the United Kingdom would have to show a negative test report 72 hours before departing from those countries.
What’s worrying the NZ government is that some cities like Doha, which are en route the UK to New Zealand, do not need pre-departure COVID-19 test. So, passengers entering those countries could be possible carriers.
So far, New Zealand’s strict approach has been praised the world over. New Zealand averted community spread, resulting in better economic recovery and fewer deaths. The country would like to keep this approach with keen monitoring and quick actions.
