In a statement this afternoon, the Ministry of Health said a range of amendments to border orders come into effect from today "to further strengthen and fine-tune New Zealand's frontline defences against Covid-19".
Changes to the Air and Isolation and Quarantine Orders include:
• An amendment to the definition of 'aircrew' to include aircrew who are not working, coming back from an overseas leg
• Exclusion from managed isolation for a small number of additional people, where the health risk is deemed very low;
• Amendments to the restrictions for New Zealand-based aircrew operating international flights.
Changes to the Maritime Border Order include:
• Improved clarity on the requirements for foreign ships seeking exemption from the Order to enter New Zealand for the purposes of repair, refit or refurbishment;
• Mandating personal protective equipment (PPE) be used in specific high-risk scenarios on ports and ships.
A new variant of the disease has arrived in the United Kingdom and a top New Zealand epidemiologist warns it will be here within the next few week.
Health officials in the UK say there is no evidence the new variant is more deadly, or will react differently to vaccines, but it was proving to be up to 70% more transmissible, the BBC reports.
New Zealand's Dr Michael Baker said the new Covid-19 strain was only a problem for this country if the virus was imported.
"Basically every time we get an infected person going into a MIQ facility in New Zealand, it increases the risk of outbreaks because mistakes happen and it's a tough virus to control."
NEW COVID CASES
Of the cases reported today:
- One case arrived on December 10 from the United States. This person tested positive due to the onset of symptoms around day 9 and has been transferred to quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
- One case arrived on December 10 from the United States. This person tested positive due to the onset of symptoms around day 9 and has been transferred to quarantine in a facility in Christchurch.
- One case arrived on December 16 from South Korea. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 3 and has been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
- One case arrived on December 16. The country of origin is not yet available. This person tested positive at routine testing around day 3 and has been transferred to the Auckland quarantine facility.
- One case - considered a historical case - arrived on December 18 from Russia via Singapore and was tested on arrival. The ministry said the person was infected in Russia and not regarded as infectious. The ministry said this case joined a fishing vessel in Lyttelton after arriving. The vessel left New Zealand the next day and was now in international waters, and would not be returning to the country for months. The ministry said it was still determining whether the case would be reported as a case in New Zealand or Russia.
One previously reported case has recovered. The total number of active cases in New Zealand is 59, while the total number of confirmed cases is 1765.
The total number of tests processed by laboratories to date is 1,374,050.
A case the Ministry reported yesterday as having arrived from Australia is incorrect. This person arrived from the United Kingdom via the United Arab Emirates.
UK COVID-19 VARIANT
Health authorities in the UK are in communication with other authorities around the world, including New Zealand, about the emergence of a new Covid-19 strain in the UK, known as the B.1.1.7 strain.
This specific strain has not been seen in New Zealand cases to date.
The Ministry of Health said it is confident New Zealand’s current use of PPE, testing strategy and 14-day managed isolation for all arrivals is appropriate, but would continue to review these tools in light of any new and emerging evidence.
The Ministry maintained that New Zealand's most important protection at the border is the 14 days in isolation and/or quarantine, together with daily symptom checks and testing at day 3 and day 12 (with additional testing if symptomatic).
"We are also confident our current PCR testing would detect this and any new strains."
NEW SOUTH WALES
Meanwhile, health officials continue to liaise with counterparts in New South Wales following an increase in coronavirus cases in the Australian state. The specific genome identified in NSW has not been seen in New Zealand cases to date.
NZ COVID TRACER APP, BLUETOOTH
The NZ Covid Tracer app now has 2,414,100 registered users. Poster scans have reached 142,042,068 and app users have created 5,722,190 manual diary entries. Approximately 390,000 app users have now turned on Bluetooth tracing.
The Ministry of Health said it was pleased by the level of uptake and continues to encourage people to start using the Bluetooth function.
"This will allow you to receive an alert if you have been near another app user who tests positive for Covid-19."
As New Zealand enters the summer holiday break, the Ministry said it would like to remind everyone to keep each other safe and use the app, to scan QR codes and turn on Bluetooth functionality.
UPDATES OVER HOLIDAY PERIOD
The Ministry will continue through the holiday period to provide updates about cases and actions taken in response.
Upcoming scheduled reporting dates will be: Wednesday 23 December; Sunday 27 December; Tuesday 29 December; Thursday 31 December; Sunday 3 January; Tuesday 5 January; Thursday 7 January and Sunday 10 January.
- NZ Herald and ODT Online
