Tagged: coronavirus

Featured image: Masking the outbreak: despite New Zealand’s growing COVID-19 cases, there are more ways to get back to elimination faster

Masking the outbreak: despite New Zealand’s growing COVID-19 cases, there are more ways to get back to elimination faster - COVID-19

Guest Author • Aug 14, 2020 •

Nick Wilson, University of Otago; Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago, and Michael Baker, University of Otago As New Zealand enters its third day at heightened alert levels to contain a community outbreak of COVID-19, we expect it should only be a temporary setback. Four cases with no direct links to border or quarantine facilities were confirmed late on Tuesday. Read More

Featured image: Why New Zealand needs to focus on genome sequencing to trace the source of its new COVID-19 outbreak

Why New Zealand needs to focus on genome sequencing to trace the source of its new COVID-19 outbreak - COVID-19

Guest Author • Aug 14, 2020 •

David Welch Genetic surveillance — a technology that uses the genetic fingerprint of a virus to track its spread — is part of the public health response to New Zealand’s new COVID-19 community outbreak and could help pinpoint its source. There are now 17 cases of community transmission, all in Auckland, and health officials are treating the group as a … Read More

Featured image: How genome sequencing could crack the case of the NZ Covid comeback

How genome sequencing could crack the case of the NZ Covid comeback - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 13, 2020 •

The novel coronavirus mutates as it travels between people and around the world. By sequencing the genome, we can try to work out which case is linked with another. As Aotearoa confronted its first cases of Covid-19 community transmission in more than 100 days, the director general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, raised genome sequencing – something which “may help us … Read More

Featured image: Don’t panic. We can do this. Together

Don’t panic. We can do this. Together - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 12, 2020 •

Aotearoa surpassed 100 days without a case of community transmission of Covid-19. Last night that virus-free streak ended and we’re moving back up the alert levels.  For months now, we’ve been intercepting cases of Covid-19 at the border. But just as has happened in many other countries, somehow the sneaky bastard has got in. At a late press conference last … Read More

Featured image: 100 days without COVID-19: how New Zealand got rid of a virus that keeps spreading across the world

100 days without COVID-19: how New Zealand got rid of a virus that keeps spreading across the world - COVID-19

Guest Author • Aug 07, 2020 •

Michael Baker, University of Otago; Amanda Kvalsvig, University of Otago, and Nick Wilson, University of Otago On Sunday, New Zealand will mark 100 days without community transmission of COVID-19. From the first known case imported into New Zealand on February 26 to the last case of community transmission detected on May 1, elimination took 65 days. New Zealand relied on … Read More

Featured image: Should a COVID-19 vaccine be compulsory — and what would this mean for anti-vaxxers?

Should a COVID-19 vaccine be compulsory — and what would this mean for anti-vaxxers? - COVID-19

Guest Author • Aug 07, 2020 •

Claire Breen, University of Waikato With COVID-19 vaccine developers reporting promising results, it is probable we will one day face a major public health question: can the government compel New Zealanders to be vaccinated? Just as inevitably, some people will refuse a vaccine. As we have seen overseas with debates over the wearing of masks, and more generally with … Read More

Featured image: Victoria’s lockdown ‘an endless game of Covid-19 whack-a-mole’

Victoria’s lockdown ‘an endless game of Covid-19 whack-a-mole’ - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 04, 2020 •

Siouxsie Wiles The restrictions in place for metropolitan Melbourne now are in some ways stricter than those that were in force during New Zealand’s COVID-19 lockdown. A curfew is in place and most people have to wear masks when they leave their home – neither of which happened in New Zealand. But the state of Victoria has lost valuable … Read More

Featured image: Four possible scenarios for the Australian and South Korean travellers

Four possible scenarios for the Australian and South Korean travellers - Infectious Thoughts

Siouxsie Wiles • Aug 01, 2020 •

Over the last few days, reports have emerged of people travelling from New Zealand and testing positive for Covid-19 upon arrival at their destination. First in South Korea and now in Australia. What might these positive tests mean? They’re false-positives As Toby Morris and I have explained before, there are different ways to test someone for Covid-19. The main ways … Read More