Covid-19: UK variant raises risk of NZ community transmission, says expert

By RNZ News

New Zealand faces an increased risk of community transmission from the UK strain of covid-19 that is now arriving in the country, says epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker.

There were 31 new imported cases of covid-19 reported today, with the Health Ministry also revealing that 19 people have tested positive for the more infectious UK variant of the virus at the New Zealand border in the past four weeks.

The variant is considerably more transmissible than previous strains but not necessarily any more dangerous for those infected.

First detected in November, the variant has driven a spike in cases in the UK and has now spread across the globe.

The Ministry of Health said today most the 19 cases seen in New Zealand’s managed isolation facilities had come into the country from the UK via the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar or Singapore.

“Infection prevention control protocols are in place for all staff and we can assure the public that there is no increased risk to the community.”

But Dr Baker said there clearly was a risk.

Variant ‘more infectious’
“As soon as you have a variant that’s more infectious it means those with it are more likely to infect people on the flight to New Zealand, more likely to infect other people in managed isolation and the staff that work there.

“If the variant gets into the community, it’s more likely to cause an outbreak and it will be harder to control.”

Dr Baker said the ministry was right that the same strict protocols were being followed at the border, but from a risk assessment point of view the risk has been turned up.

“Pre-flight testing will obviously reduce the amount of positive cases at the border – some countries have banned arrivals from the UK altogether but that’s taking it too far.

“We still need to allow New Zealanders the right to come home, but we do need to put in more effort to reduce the number of infected people getting on flights.”

People should stay home for the week before their flight and be extra cautious when they travel to the airport, he said.

Next focus for defence
“We have a booking system so we know who is coming back to New Zealand as most have arranged their plans months in advance.

“We should be contacting them and giving them advice on what they should and shouldn’t be doing,” Dr Baker said.

He said people often used their time before a flight catching up with friends and family to say goodbye which increased the risk of getting covid-19.

“There’s a vital opportunity in the week before a flight to reduce the chance of getting the virus so that could be the next focus for New Zealand’s defence against it.”

This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.