WELLINGTON — New Zealand well being officers on Sunday confirmed the primary case of COVID-19 locally for greater than two months, sparking pressing contract-tracing efforts north of Auckland.
A 56-year-old girl who lately returned from Europe examined constructive 10 days after finishing a obligatory two weeks in managed isolation, though she had seen signs a number of days earlier than getting examined.
Contact tracing was underway after it was revealed the girl and her husband spent a number of days travelling across the Northland area whereas she was doubtlessly infectious, visiting about 30 completely different places.
Well being Minister Chris Hipkins mentioned it was too quickly to resolve whether or not a full or partial lockdown could be reintroduced.
Chris Hipkins speaks to reporters on Sept. 25, 2019, in Wellington, New Zealand (AP Picture/Nick Perry)
“We don’t know the origin or the pressure of the an infection,” he informed a press convention.
The girl returned to New Zealand on December 30 after spending 4 months in Europe — primarily in Spain and the Netherlands — and was launched from an Auckland quarantine resort on January 13.
New Zealand director-general of well being Ashley Bloomfield mentioned she had returned two destructive checks whereas in isolation, and her husband had not proven any signs.
It marks the primary recognized case of neighborhood transmission in New Zealand since November 18.
Authorities had been reviewing closed-circuit tv footage to see if the girl contracted the virus whereas within the managed isolation facility.
Greater than 600 individuals who had frolicked within the resort have been requested to self-isolate and be re-tested for COVID-19.
It’s the second time a returnee has developed coronavirus signs after being cleared to depart an isolation facility in New Zealand.
A person who returned from India in August returned two destructive checks in isolation however didn’t begin exhibiting COVID signs till 5 days after his launch.
New Zealand has been broadly praised for its dealing with of the pandemic, with simply 25 deaths from 1,927 confirmed virus circumstances in a inhabitants of 5 million.