More cases of highly contagious strains ‘Year of vaccine’
The number of people with the highly contagious UK and South African variants of Covid-19 has increased to 36 – all of them returning from overseas and in managed isolation and quarantine facilities.
The Ministry of Health provided the update yesterday, saying that further steps have recently been taken to strengthen the border processes. These include a day zero Covid-19 test, and pre-departure testing of all passengers except those from Australia, Antarctica and most Pacific Islands.
The last whole genome sequencing report on January 6 found 19 cases of the variants, which have been found to be up to
70 per cent more contagious than previously identified strains.
Confirmed whole genome sequencing has identified 11 samples of B.1.1.7 (known as the UK variant) and six samples of
B.1.3.5.1 (the South Africa variant) since January 6, as well as a number of other previously identified strains. The lineages are all consistent with overseas exposure.
All positive tests were sent to ESR to attempt whole genome sequencing as part of ongoing surveillance.
The ministry said the genome testing ‘‘allows us to identify and better understand these variants in order to inform and refine our overall elimination strategy’’.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has used her first public remarks for the year to declare 2021 ‘‘the year of the vaccine’’ and stated the Government’s goal is getting Covid to the point where it will be managed like the common seasonal flu.
Ardern made the comments at the annual
Labour Party caucus retreat in
Nelson. ‘‘This year, also, is the year of the vaccine . . . and I don’t use the word ‘year’ lightly, that is what it is going to take, it will not be something that happens quickly,’’ Ardern said. ‘‘It will, around the world, be a programme of work that we’ll see through over the course of the entire year.’’ Ardern also stressed to her caucus that rolling out the vaccine was a part of making the management of Covid-19 more like the way the seasonal flu is dealt with. ‘‘Our goal has to be though, to get the management of Covid-19 to a similar place as we do seasonally, with the flu. It won’t be a disease that we will see simply disappear after one round of vaccine across our population.’’