Twenty-four days after Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's Prime Minister, announced their nation being virus-free, almost all the coronavirus restrictions were lifted in their country, and people celebrated the recovery of their last COVID-19 case, the country's Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield regretfully announced a newly recorded case for coronavirus. That was after two women who traveled from Britain was tested positive of the virus.
The pair, one in her 40s and the other in her 30s, received special permission to travel from the city of Auckland to Wellington on June 12 and 13 as an answer to their plea to mourn with their family as someone they loved has recently died. Before their travel, the two underwent quarantine but were just released early as a response to their request.
Despite what happened, Bloomfield claims everything was handled perfectly well and that there's no need for the New Zealanders to worry or fear. According to the Director-General, the two never had contact with anybody throughout the trip except for one family member in Wellington. They were just allowed to mourn but not really to attend gatherings even at the funeral of their deceased.
The pair were reported to travel only using a private vehicle guided with safety protocols given to them by the authorities. Rest assured that the women followed strict rules as they visit and mourn their dead. Currently, the two women are now quarantined, along with the other family member who they have been exposed with.
There are several speculations as to how the pair were infected by the coronavirus. In a post shared by The Sydney Morning Herald, the two women might have been infected by the coronavirus in the UK, maybe on one of their flights on their way to New Zealand, or possibly on their route to and from the airport.
With what just happened in the country, authorities are then pushed to alter the protocols they have initially established. They announced that no one will now be allowed to leave the facility during their quarantine not until they have already been tested negative of the coronavirus, as reported by The Guardian.
Ardern said, though her country was already successful in containing the virus, she still anticipates the possibility of a second wave as coronavirus is still lurking worldwide without a vaccine and cure. With this, the government will be implementing a rigorous system, especially at its borders. She said their government will remain cautious especially in times like this.
