New Zealand Records 14 New COVID-19 Cases

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has announced today, August 13, 2020, that they have recorded 14 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Zealand. 

13 COVID-19 Community Cases

According to Dr. Bloomfield, 13 new COVID-19 community cases are recorded today and all are linked to the four COVID-19 cases reported on Tuesday. Furthermore, these new COVID-19 cases all originate from Auckland.

One COVID-19 Case Report in Managed Isolation

Dr. Bloomfield also stated that they have recorded one COVID-19 case from the managed isolation who arrived in New Zealand from the Philippines last August 8, 2020. Said patient has been in managed isolation at the Distinction Hotel. She tested positive for COVID-19 around the third day of her stay. 

New Zealand COVID-19 Cases

Therefore, the total cases recorded today in New Zealand is 14. This brings New Zealand’s total active COVID-19 cases to 36.

Origin of the New Outbreak

As for the source of the COVID-19 cases, Dr. Bloomfield said in his statement that they will find the origin of the outbreak.  According to The Guardian, Dr. Bloomfield has confirmed that the virus may have been circulating in Auckland for several weeks as the original case started showing symptoms as early as July 31, 2020.

Growing Cluster

Dr. Bloomfield said that they are now treating these cases as a cluster and it’s important that they investigate these cases to their full extent. 

Here’s the statement of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the growing cluster: 

“As we all learnt from our first experience with COVID, once you identify a cluster, it grows before it slows. We should expect that to be the case here.”

Prime Minister Ardern also said that the new outbreak is a reminder of how tricky the virus is and how easy it can spread.  She also added that going hard and early is still the best course of action.

COVID-19 Cases to be managed in a Quarantine Facility

Furthermore,  Dr. Bloomfield has directed medical officers of health that all COVID-19 cases are to be managed in a quarantine facility, with excellent processes and resources in place to look after people that includes health staff on-site at all times, which was different from how they managed positive COVID-19 cases at previous levels.

Also, this will apply to any cases and also close family members who might be at risk as appropriate.

Lockdown Over Auckland

Last Wednesday, after four cases were recorded in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city was placed under level 3 restrictions while the rest of New Zealand was on Level 2 restrictions until midnight of August 14, 2020.  And due to the new COVID-19 outbreak, Auckland’s lockdown might be extended. 

Source: Prime Minister Jacenda Ardern Facebook Page , Ministry of Health NZ, The Guardian