A 56-year-old woman in New Zealand has become the first person in months to have contracted COVID-19 in the country. The woman returned to New Zealand on December 30 and tested positive for the South African strain of the virus. Before this, while in a two-week mandatory quarantine she had tested negative twice according to COVID-19 response minister Chris Hipkins. Close contacts of the patient have so far tested negative.

No other community cases have been identified

Since the woman’s case was identified, no other community cases have been reported. Authorities have clarified that the source of the infection was most likely a fellow traveller at the quarantine facility. Hipkins has explained that authorities are looking into whether the virus spread through the ventilation and air conditioning systems in these facilities.

New Zealand has successfully been able to control the spread of the virus over the past year. It’s last recorded case of community transmission was back in November 2020. A major contributing factor to this has been intensive lockdowns and geographical isolation for citizens in the country. It has helped them nearly eliminate the virus within its borders. However, as the pandemic continues globally, more travellers could return with infections and cause community transmission.

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