It’s a matter of when, not if. Is NZ prepared for a new community case of COVID-19?
UC mathematicians Professor Michael Plank and Associate Professor Alex James are two of the experts behind The Conversation article that says a new community case of COVID-19 in New Zealand is a matter of when, not if. The authors ask, is the country prepared for it?
Two mathematicians from UC’s College of Engineering contributed to the latest article published on The Conversation that says New Zealanders need to redouble their efforts to keep track of people they meet, if we are to have a chance of controlling any re-emergence of COVID-19.
The director general of health, Ashley Bloomfield, recently warned that a new case of COVID-19 community transmission is a matter of when, not if. He said:
“We’re working on the basis it could be anytime, of course coupled with doing everything we can to intercept the virus at the border and stop it coming any further.”
So far, our border restrictions and quarantine have kept the virus out, but with the pandemic accelerating globally, the threat of re-emergence is small but ever present. Should an infectious person slip through the border, our modelling shows comprehensive contact tracing and quick isolation are our best defences, without having to resort to another lockdown.
So far, our border restrictions and quarantine have kept the virus out, but with the pandemic accelerating globally, the threat of re-emergence is small but ever present. Should an infectious person slip through the border, our modelling shows comprehensive contact tracing and quick isolation are our best defences, without having to resort to another lockdown.