Due to the global spread of the new coronavirus, New Zealand has closed its borders and is currently prohibiting entry to anyone other than returning New Zealand nationals or citizens and those with special permission from the government.
Those returning from overseas have been testing positive for COVID-19 one after another. After 24 days of zero cases in New Zealand, the number of cases has been increasing by a few since June 16th, with three cases on June 25th and a total of 13 confirmed cases.
No community infections
There are currently no community infections, and all positive cases are people returning from overseas. In the past few days, positive cases have been reported among people returning from India and Peru. However, there are no serious cases, and most are in quarantine in managed hotels. The possibility of community infection is also considered extremely low.
Currently, New Zealand does not require the same coronavirus prevention measures as Japan and other countries, such as wearing masks and maintaining social distance. For this reason, rugby matches have begun with tens of thousands of spectators since mid-June.
If community infections occur, restrictions will be tightened again and we may even be forced back into a lockdown.
Testing of returning residents is being neglected
Between June 9 and June 16, 54 people were allowed to leave their mandatory 14-day quarantine early due to a family emergency or funeral, but 50 of them were not tested.
Additionally, of the 2,159 people who completed quarantine between June 9 and June 16, 449 left their quarantine hotels without being tested.
Rules stipulate that people must be tested twice during the 14-day quarantine (on the third and thirteenth days), but it has been discovered that this is not being done properly.
New Zealanders must not be stopped from returning home, so I hope that a solid testing system will be maintained.
"In Japan, it takes time to change or introduce new rules, but once they are decided, they stick to them. In New Zealand, they are quick and flexible in changing or introducing new rules, but they are sloppy in doing so."
A Kiwi living in Japan analyzed this.
4-hour queue for coronavirus test
While coronavirus testing for returning travellers in quarantine has been lax, many tests are being carried out every day across New Zealand.
It is winter in New Zealand, which is in the southern hemisphere. As a result, the number of people catching the flu and colds is increasing, and so are the people seeking coronavirus tests.
At the testing facilities, waiting times were up to four hours in some locations, and the number of tests per day, which had previously been 30-40 or more, has risen to nearly 200 in some locations.
Even if they are people returning from overseas, it seems that an increasing number of people are worried about being infected themselves as the number of positive cases in the country increases.
→ Covid 19 coronavirus: Test queues grow as cold season hits
In New Zealand, people have been urging people to get tested immediately if they experience any symptoms that may be related to the virus, such as a sore throat or runny nose , but the criteria for who needs to be tested have recently been changed.
- Have had contact with a positive person
- Returning from overseas
- Have had contact with someone returning from overseas
- Worked on an airplane or ship
- Worked at an airport or quarantine facility
If you do not meet these criteria, you will not be required to take the test.
Winter is about to begin in New Zealand. I hope that the number of infected people will reach zero again as soon as possible.
