Photo: Canterbury UniversityA level 4 lockdown longer than that in March last year would be needed to stamp out new strains of Covid-19 which had potential for "explosive exponential growth" if they entered the New Zealand community, scientists say. "This means that the number of new cases per infected person (the so-called R number) is 40-70 percent higher than the original strain. Plank said if there was a community outbreak, there could need to be stricter restrictions to bring it under control. A period of pre-travel quarantine would also help to reduce the number of cases arriving at the border, he said. "With the threat from new strains the number of arrivals into New Zealand is no longer sustainable."

Source: Otago Daily Times January 14, 2021 06:56 UTC