2020 coronavirus pandemic in New Zealand

2020 coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand

Map of regions with confirmed (red) or suspected (blue) coronavirus COVID-19 cases (as of 16 March 2020)
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	New Zealand
Arrival date	26 February 2020 (3 weeks)
Origin	Wuhan, Hubei, China
Confirmed cases	20
Suspected cases‡	2
Severe cases	1
Recovered	1
Deaths	0
‡ Suspected cases have not been confirmed as being due to this strain by laboratory tests, although some other strains may have been ruled out.

The first coronavirus pandemic case in New Zealand was reported on 28 February 2020. A total of 20 cases have been confirmed as of 18 March 2020, along with two other probable cases who recovered before they could be tested. Cases have occurred in the Auckland, Wellington, and Waikato regions of the North Island, and the Canterbury, Otago, and Southland regions of the South Island.

Timeline

January 2020

On 28 January, the Ministry of Health set up the National Health Coordination Centre (NHCC) in response to the outbreak. An Infectious and Notifiable Diseases Order was issued to take effect from 30 January, which required health practitioners to report any suspected cases under the Health Act 1956.

February 2020

On 3 February, the New Zealand Government announced that foreign travellers who left from China would be denied entry to New Zealand, with only New Zealand citizens and permanent residents and their family being allowed to enter. Universities asked for the Government to exempt Chinese students who are travelling to study in New Zealand. Foreigners who left China and spent at least 14 days in another country were permitted to enter New Zealand. The ban was extended for an additional eight days on 24 February.

On 4 February, the cruise ship Diamond Princess was quarantined by Japanese authorities in Yokohama after passengers were confirmed to have COVID-19. Eleven New Zealanders were reported to be on board. By 20 February, four New Zealand passengers had tested positive for the virus and were being treated in Japan. Two of them had been due to travel on an evacuation flight being organised by the Australian government.

On 5 February, a government-chartered flight operated by Air New Zealand arrived in Auckland from Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The city of Wuhan had been under lockdown since 23 January. The flight carried 193 passengers, including 54 New Zealand citizens and 44 permanent residents. Thirty-five Australian passengers were transferred to an Australian flight, while the remaining 157 passengers were quarantined in a military facility at Whangaparaoa for 14 days. The passengers were subsequently released on 19 February.

New Zealand confirmed its first case on 28 February, a New Zealand citizen in his 60s who had recently visited Iran, returning via Bali, Indonesia, and arriving in New Zealand on 26 February at Auckland. He had two tests for COVID-19 that were negative, but a third test using a more specific sample was positive. He was admitted to Auckland City Hospital. New Zealand was the 48th country to have a confirmed case of COVID-19. Also on 28 February, the Government extended the travel restrictions to include travellers coming from Iran.

March 2020

COVID-19 cases in New Zealand  ()      Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases
Date			# of cases
2020-02-28		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	1(n.a.)
⋮		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	1(=)
2020-03-04		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	2(+100%)
2020-03-05		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	4(+100%)
2020-03-06		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	4(=)
2020-03-07		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	5(+25%)
⋮		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	5(=)
2020-03-14		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	6(+20%)
2020-03-15		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	8(+33%)
2020-03-16		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	8(=)
2020-03-17		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	12(+50%)
2020-03-18		​ ​ ​ ​ ​	20(+66%)
Sources: Official reports from the New Zealand Ministry of Health

On 4 March, a New Zealand woman in her 30s who had returned from northern Italy on 25 February was confirmed as the second case of the virus in New Zealand. She had flown into Auckland via Singapore, and subsequently caught domestic flights to and from Palmerston North on 2 March. Her partner also displayed symptoms of the virus, and was confirmed as the fourth case on 6 March.

On 5 March, the third confirmed New Zealand case and the first case of local transmission was reported. An Auckland man in his 40s was infected with COVID-19 by a family member who had returned from Iran on 23 February. Three other members of his family had previously been unwell. Two family members had arrived in New Zealand from Iran on 23 February. On 7 March, a fifth case was announced, a woman in her 40s who was the partner of the third case. One of the family members who had returned from Iran was the father of the third case, and is considered a probable case.

On 6 March, the Ministry of Health said that eight people from New Zealand had been passengers on the 11–21 February cruise of Grand Princess from San Francisco to Mexico and back and may have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. All eight had already returned to New Zealand. One was a woman in her 70s who had been in hospital for a respiratory illness and was discharged and is considered a probable case.

On 13 March, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings that killed 51 people, a national remembrance service was cancelled out of concerns over the virus. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the decision was a pragmatic one, adding, "We're very saddened to cancel [it], but in remembering such a terrible tragedy, we shouldn't create the risk of further harm being done." In addition to the remembrance service, an Auckland festival celebrating Pacific culture was also cancelled.

On 14 March, a sixth confirmed case was announced, an Auckland man in his 60s who had recently returned from the United States. He went into self isolation.

On 14 March, Ardern announced that, effective 01:00 on 16 March, all travellers arriving in or returning to New Zealand from outside of the country must self-isolate for 14 days. This applies to all travellers, even if they are New Zealand citizens, but excludes travel from the Pacific islands unless the traveller is symptomatic. In addition, restrictions were placed on travel to the Pacific islands from New Zealand, barring travel to the region by those showing signs of coronavirus symptoms, as well as close contacts of coronavirus patients. Cruise ships will be prohibited from docking in New Zealand until 30 June. Ardern described these as being among the "widest ranging and toughest border restrictions of any country in the world".

On 15 March, two more cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of infected in New Zealand to eight. The seventh case was a man who travelled from Australia to Wellington. The eighth case was of a woman who was a visitor from Denmark arriving in Auckland via Doha and then Christchurch, before driving on towards Queenstown, where she became ill and was hospitalised.

On 17 March, four more cases were confirmed, bringing the total number of infected in New Zealand to 12. The ninth and tenth cases were a Wellington man and his father, who had travelled back from the United States. The eleventh case was a man from Dunedin, who had travelled back from Germany. The twelfth case was a Dunedin high school student who was the son of the eleventh case.

On 18 March 2020, the Ministry of Health confirmed that New Zealand had eight new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total to 20. Four of these new cases were in Auckland, two in the Waikato region, one in Christchurch, and one in Invercargill.

Testing

There is concern COVID-19 tests have being given only to people who have returned with symptoms from impacted countries or people who have been in contact with a confirmed case. People with symptoms not fitting these categories have not been tested.

NZ case definition for COVID-19 testing from March 14th:

• symptoms (fever and cough) AND travel history
• symptoms (fever and cough) AND close or causal contact with a confirmed case
• healthcare workers with pneumonia
• people treated in intensive case units for severe respiratory illnesses

For cases not fitting this case definition doctors are encouraged to use their own judgement whether to test the patient or not.

Reactions

Increased demand for face-masks and hand sanitisers have led to shortages nationwide in supermarkets and pharmacies. Following the first New Zealand case of COVID-19 on 28 February, customers were reportedly panic-buying supplies at Auckland supermarkets.

A Wellington iwi has placed a taupāruru (restriction) on the practice of hongi, a traditional Māori greeting, in response to the outbreak.

There has been an increase in xenophobia towards Asians.

An Utting Research poll conducted between 1–2 March suggested that 47% were satisfied with the government's response to the COVID-19 outbreak, with 34% unsatisfied and 19% unsure.

Following the implementation of stronger border controls, SANZAAR announced on 14 March that it would suspend play of its Super Rugby season (which features five New Zealand teams) following the conclusion of the weekend's matches.

On 16 March 2020, national carrier Air New Zealand announced that it would be reducing its long haul capacity by 85% and its personnel by 30% in response to declining revenue as a result of the outbreak. The airline suspended flights to several major international cities including San Francisco, Houston, Buenos Aires, Vancouver, Tokyo, Honolulu, Denpasar, and Taipei between 30 March and 30 June as well as its London–Los Angeles service. In addition, domestic network capacity would be reduced in March and April 2020. However, Air New Zealand will maintain enough overseas flights for returning New Zealanders and evacuees.

On 16 March, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called for a halt to public gatherings of more than 500 people and warned that the outbreak could lead to a recession greater than the 2008 global financial crisis.

On 17 March 2020, Health Minister David Clark announced that the Government would deport foreign tourists who flout self-quarantine restrictions. That same day, Immigration New Zealand placed two foreign tourists into forced quarantine for defying Government requirements to self-quarantine for two weeks. These tourists have also been ordered to leave New Zealand following their quarantine.

On 17 March, Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced as NZ$12.1 billion Covid-19 coronavirus business package; which includes NZ$8.7 billion for businesses and jobs, NZ$2.8 billion for income support, NZ$500 million for health, and a NZ$600 million support package for the aviation sector and to support supply chains, this does not include any support for Air New Zealand, the national carrier.

On 17 March, Logan Park High School in Dunedin closed for 48 hours after one of its students tested positive for the coronavirus. That same day, Jon Landau, the co-producer of the Avatar film sequels, announced that film production at the Wellington–based Stone Street Studios had been suspended in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

On 17 March, Newshub reported that the Australian Border Force had suspended the repatriation of New Zealand deportees between 16 March and 30 March 2020 as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

On 18 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) urged all New Zealanders traveling overseas to return home. In addition, Prime Minsiter Ardern announced that the New Zealand and Australian Governments would be cancelling Anzac Day services scheduled to be held at Gallipoli in Turkey in response to travel restrictions and the coronavirus outbreak.

External links

• Information on COVID-19 by the New Zealand Ministry of Health
• Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation reports by the World Health Organization (official numbers of confirmed cases by country)
• Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases and historical data by Johns Hopkins University