CHRIS SKELTON/Stuff
There are not any new instances of Covid-19 to report in Christchurch on Sunday, whereas one earlier case was confirmed as historic. (File photograph).
Questions stay in regards to the neighborhood transmission of Covid-19 in Christchurch, regardless of the town recording no new instances within the newest figures.
The Ministry of Well being introduced 143 new neighborhood instances on Sunday: 135 in Auckland, six in Waikato and two in Northland, following a record high 160 new cases on Saturday.
Whereas Christchurch didn’t add to its tally, specialists are nonetheless investigating how a person who tested positive for Covid-19 in Tonga after leaving the town caught the virus.
The particular person flew from Christchurch to Tonga on Wednesday after returning a adverse pre-departure take a look at. Nonetheless, a take a look at upon arrival in Tonga got here again constructive on Friday.
No hyperlink has but been established to Christchurch’s 4 lively neighborhood instances, or a separate supply. Four close contacts of the Tongan case have returned preliminary adverse checks for Covid-19. Two are in isolation at dwelling in Christchurch and two in Porirua.
Tongan media outlet Matangi Tonga reported that the particular person was a younger missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who had been abroad and stayed in New Zealand for a number of weeks earlier than flying to Tonga.
READ MORE:
* Covid-19: No new cases in Christchurch, one earlier case confirmed historical
* Covid-19: Fifth case in Christchurch ‘likely’ historical, source of Tongan case remains unknown
* Covid-19: 160 new community cases, contacts in Wellington test negative
College of Canterbury infectious illness modelling professional Professor Michael Plank stated it was potential the particular person may have caught the virus as much as every week earlier than leaving Christchurch.
It was additionally potential to return a adverse outcome two to a few days after getting contaminated, whereas nonetheless being within the incubation interval, he stated.
“If we’re engaged on the idea that they caught it in Christchurch that may counsel different instances within the metropolis that we don’t learn about.
“They should have caught it from someplace.”
STUFF
Stuff visited Bishopdale Village Mall to see how Cantabrians are feeling in regards to the new instances of Covid-19 in Christchurch.
Earlier, immunologist Dr Dianne Sika-Paotonu stated the Tongan case seemingly indicated “more Covid-19 spread in the Christchurch community than is being currently reflected by the Covid-19 case numbers”.
Plank was inspired by the shortage of recent instances on Sunday, however stated Christchurch would want a string of zero days earlier than it may contemplate itself heading in the right direction.
He needed to see numerous testing within the metropolis this week, to determine any beforehand undetected neighborhood instances.
Kevin Stent/Stuff
An individual who flew to Tonga from Christchurch on Wednesday examined constructive for Covid-19 upon arrival. (File photograph).
In keeping with Ministry of Well being knowledge, 7497 folks had been examined for Covid-19 in Canterbury throughout Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The ministry urged anybody in Christchurch with any signs, regardless of how delicate, to get examined.
On Sunday, one beforehand reported neighborhood case in Christchurch has been reclassified as a historic case following additional take a look at outcomes, bringing the overall instances within the metropolis from 5 all the way down to 4.
The 4 instances are linked with a clear source. They embrace the 2 unique instances, introduced on Thursday and two of their shut contacts.
There have been greater than 9000 vaccinations throughout Canterbury on Saturday, together with 6600 second doses – a couple of fifth of the overall vaccinations delivered throughout the nation.
As of Sunday, 91 per cent of the Canterbury District Well being Board’s eligible inhabitants has now had their first dose and 73 per cent are absolutely vaccinated.
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