Let's see what a country with nearly no COVID-19 cases does when a single local case shows up. Oh, they completely lockdown, do wide-scale testing and contact tracing, and make sure they completely eliminate COVID-19 in their population. When they are done the country will be completely open again with businesses opened, kids in school, and life going on as normal. With the added bonus of have the world's smallest COVID-19 economic impact because they country dealt with it properly. New Zealand reinstates coronavirus restrictions after first locally-transmitted case in 102 days https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/11/world/new-zealand-restrictions-intl-scli/index.html New Zealand has reintroduced coronavirus restrictions in parts of the country after new locally transmitted cases broke the 102-day streak the country had gone without recording a local infection. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern confirmed four new locally transmitted coronavirus cases on Tuesday night, and announced that New Zealand's most populous city, Auckland, will temporarily see level three restrictions introduced for three days starting from midday on Wednesday. All four of the cases were found within one household in South Auckland according to New Zealand's Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. He added that none of the new cases had recently traveled outside of New Zealand. "We have been preparing for that time, and that time is now," said Dr Bloomfield adding that the "health system is well prepared." "In line with our precautionary approach we will be asking Aucklanders to take swift actions with us, as of 12 noon tomorrow, Wednesday August 12, we will be moving Auckland to level 3 restrictions," said Ardern. She added that this will give health officials time to conduct urgent contact tracing and assess the situation. The new restrictions mean that businesses including restaurants, bars and non-essential shops will have to close. People will also now only be allowed to leave their homes to conduct essential activities such as picking up supplies from grocery stores. Gatherings over 10 people will also be restricted in Auckland. Schools in Auckland will also be closed for three days. Outside of Auckland, the rest of New Zealand will go into level two restrictions. Under the restrictions groups of no more than 100 people can gather in one place. Social distancing must also be practiced at hospitality businesses, while public venues such as museums, libraries and pools can open if they comply with public health measures and ensure one meter physical distancing and record keeping. The new restrictions across Auckland and New Zealand will take place from midday on Wednesday and last at least three days until midnight on Friday.
Coronavirus: New Zealand investigates freight as possible source of new COVID-19 outbreak Four members of the same family have tested positive in Auckland - but have not travelled abroad. https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...ible-source-of-new-covid-19-outbreak-12047645 New Zealand is investigating the possibility that its first coronavirus cases in 102 days were caused by imported freight. The city of Auckland has been put back into strict lockdown by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern after four members of the same family tested positive there. But the reason behind the outbreak has baffled health officials because the family had not travelled abroad. They are now looking into whether the coronavirus may have arrived from outside the country in a different way. They are the first known cases of the virus in more than three months, and authorities on Wednesday were awaiting the test results of four more people they suspect have infections - two work colleagues and two relatives of those in the house. Ashley Bloomfield, director general of health, said: "We are working hard to put together the pieces of the puzzle on how this family got infected. "We know the virus can survive within refrigerated environments for quite some time," he told a news conference. He said one of the people who tested positive works at an Americold food cold-storage facility in Auckland, which was being swabbed to check if it was a possible source of the infections. The US company that owns the refrigerator unit told the New Zealand Herald the infected man had been on sick leave for several days and all employees have been sent home to be tested. China has previously claimed COVID-19 has been detected on packets of imported frozen seafood. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there are no confirmed cases of coronavirus being transmitted through food or packaging, but notes it can stay on plastic for 72 hours. Two of the other people in the family travelled to the city of Rotorua while suffering symptoms and visited several tourist attractions, Mr Bloomfield added. People there are also being told to exercise caution. The surprise emergence of the virus could impact the country's general election, which is due to take place on 19 September. Mrs Ardern has already suspended the dissolution of parliament until Monday and most campaign events have been postponed. She said: "Our plan of mass testing, rapid contact tracing and, of course, our restrictions to stop the chain of transmission has been in full swing in Auckland today." The PM also strongly encouraged people to wear masks, despite them not being mandatory. New Zealanders have not had to wear face coverings en masse and have received worldwide praise for their quick response to the virus.
There are more instances of COVID-19 being found in imported frozen food. This supports the likely transmission path in New Zealand of the recent cases. China Says Frozen Chicken Wings from Brazil Test Positive for Virus https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-says-chicken-wings-from-brazil-test-positive Consumers in the Chinese city of Shenzhen have been urged to exercise caution when buying imported frozen food after a surface sample of chicken wings from Brazil tested positive for coronavirus, according to a statement from the local government. The positive sample appears to have been taken from the surface of the meat, while previously reported positive cases from other Chinese cities have been from the surface of packaging on imported frozen seafood. The chicken came from an Aurora Alimentos plant in the southern state of Santa Catarina, according to a registration number given in the statement. Virus tests of people who have possibly come into contact with the product, and tests of related products, all came back negative, the statement said. Consumers should be cautious when buying imported frozen foods and aquatic products, the government added. Three packaging samples of imported frozen seafood tested positive for Covid-19 in Yantai, a northern city of Shandong province, the city government said on its official Weibo account Tuesday. State television Wednesday reported that the outside of an Ecuador frozen shrimp package tested positive for the virus in a restaurant in Wuhu, a city in China’s Anhui province. Packaging on Ecuador shrimps has also tested positive in Xi’an, state television said Thursday.