Otago University epidemiologists Professor Michael Baker (left) and Professor Nick Wilson argue that a shift to an "alert level 2.5" would have been a safer move. This evening, Baker said he'd feel more comfortable with the alert level change if it had been used to roll in a more "sophisticated" approach to the tiered systen. "The alert level system needs to be updated to reflect new knowledge about how easily Covid-19 is transmitted in indoor environments - and how the alert level system is now being used in a more nuanced and geographically targeted way." "Using this updated approach, Auckland could then shift to alert level 2.5 and the rest of New Zealand to alert level 1.5," Baker said. But there was still some concern and uncertainty, he said, given there were still test results to come in, and the source of the scare remained unknown.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 17, 2021 05:39 UTC