Covid-19: Scientist Siouxsie Wiles states that a mysterious Auckland incident may have been infected by a virus from a cafe

This story was originally published RNZ.co.nz It will be reissued with permission.

Microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles COVID-19 You may have been contracted through the surface of the cafe.

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About 100,000 Auckland people working at CBD I was asked to work from home today..

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Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hypkins said Early results of genomic testing suggested a link to the Defense Forces cluster identified a week ago...

Wiles said 9am to noon Timing and location seem to suggest a connection to the Defense Forces cluster, and finding sources will help prevent further spread.

“One of the Wehrmacht workers ate at CBD on Thursday, lived in CBD, and worked throughout the region, who was symptomatic on Monday,” she said. “So the timing seems absolutely right, it means that the transmission happened somewhere around that.”

It is likely to spread through close human-to-human contact, but in this case surfaces such as railings and doors could have been transmission points, Wiles said.

Genome sequencing can prove that these instances have occurred and pinpoint how they spread.

She said it would be beneficial for the sequencing efforts to be quicker and urged the government to use more Covid-19 genome sequencing facilities to speed up the process.

“At this point, everything is sent to the Institute of Environmental Sciences. In some cases, there can be a delay of several hours before transferring the sample to the sequence.

“The fact that there are sequencing facilities across the country could speed it up. It could save a few more hours and stop people from worrying about the night or so.”

She hoped no blockade was needed, but said that in the coming days, people would need to take precautions and get used to adhering to protocols like the covid app for the foreseeable future.

“Maybe you have to go up to level 2 or something. It’s more about people at physical distances and this kind of thing.

“Fortunately, again, the person who complained of the symptoms has never attended a major event, so there may be more cases. It was exposed because it is very important to continue using the app. If you can get the information very quickly. “

According to Wiles, customers in the store where the woman worked would have been immediately informed. She said apps and other protocols need to be part of next year’s life.

Auckland Mystery Covid-19 cases “similar to the outbreak in August”

Previously, epidemiologist Michael Baker Morning report The latest example of the Covid-19 community is Outbreak in Auckland in August And there could have been other unknown cases.

Baker said the good news is that there is a relatively short transmission route, but the fact that other unknown cases must exist will remain the same.

“Even if it has the same genomic sequence as a Wehrmacht cluster, it definitely doesn’t come from it.

“The lineage is not always unique, so there may still be other sources of information.

“It helps, but I still want to know what the other cases are.”

Baker said there could be many cases.

“It was very similar to the August outbreak in Auckland we experienced and was very difficult to control. It took weeks.”

Epidemiologists at the University of Otago have stated that some additional control is needed, potentially up to level 2 and above.

He said New Zealand’s approach to previous outbreaks was effective.

“What sets New Zealand apart is its quick and lively response to outbreaks … Unfortunately, I think we need something similar here as well.

“It works. It’s difficult, but I think I should have moved to something like level 1.5 right now. I don’t have it yet, but I think it needs to be introduced.”

This may include restrictions on large gatherings and mandatory use of masks on public transport.

He said that in effect there had already been a change in alert level.

“As soon as we work from home or wear a mask, we are effectively raising the alert level system.”

This story was originally published RNZ.co.nz It will be reissued with permission.