New Zealand confirms seven new coronavirus cases
A new strain of the coronavirus linked to a recent outbreak in New Zealand has not been shown to be more infectious or cause more severe disease, the country’s top health official says.
Key points:
- New Zealand authorities are working with Victorian health officials to determine any link between the outbreak and storage facility in Melbourne
- New Zealand had no cases of community transmission for more than three months
- There have been 37 people linked to the latest outbreak and 19 remain in quarantine
New Zealand has confirmed seven new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours and the country’s Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield has described the new strain as a variation on a theme.
“There’s nothing about this particular strain that suggests either it’s more infectious or less infectious or that it is more severe in the illness that it creates,” he said on Saturday.
As investigations into the outbreak continue, Dr Bloomfield said he has been speaking to his counterpart in Victoria, where a company linked with the New Zealand outbreak also has facilities.
Genome testing was underway on employees in Melbourne to see if there were any connections.
“We’re looking at that possibility, it’s part of the overall puzzle and we are leaving no stone unturned,” Dr Bloomfield said.
Further test results from the New Zealand sites are expected later on Saturday, Dr Bloomfield said.
abc
