New Zealand’s top doctor has warned Kiwis to expect more cases – and potentially many more – on Thursday as the country’s Delta outbreak worsens.
Following the discovery of the first case on Tuesday, cases jumped to 10 on Wednesday – the first day of a national lockdown.
New Zealand Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield said he was “fully expecting” another jump in positive tests on Thursday.
Most of the cases are people aged under 30, who have socialised at cafes, bars, the casino, cinemas and restaurants.
The number of locations of interest, or potential exposure sites, has leapt to 55 in Auckland and 14 in the Coromandel.
“Because of the demographic of the cases, they have been out and about, there’s real potential for widespread (transmission),” Dr Bloomfield told 1News.
There are expectations the lockdown – originally set by Jacinda Ardern’s government at three days nationwide and seven days in Auckland and the Coromandel – will be extended.
COVID-19 researcher Shaun Hendy said his models “suggested about 100 cases out there”.
“We are dealing with a large cluster,” he told Radio NZ.
“We’re probably not looking at a situation where we’re going to be able to contain and eliminate this cluster. It’s going to take probably a couple of weeks.”
Dr Bloomfield wouldn’t be drawn on whether the lockdown would need to be extended, saying Cabinet would decide on Friday.
On Thursday, officials are also expected to release wastewater testing which could show whether the virus has spread beyond Auckland.
Additionally, further genomic sequencing could shine light on how the dreaded Delta variant reached Aotearoa from NSW.
“All those results come through overnight and we’ll build the picture about what that’s telling us both about the source investigation and whats happening with the outbreak,” Dr Bloomfield said.
Case numbers are released at 1pm NZST daily in New Zealand.
AAP
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