Airborne Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant within Tightly Monitored Isolation Facility, New Zealand (Aotearoa).

Andrew Fox-Lewis,Xiaoyun Ren,Joep De Ligt,Jay Harrower,Felicity Williamson,Gerard J.B Sonder,Jemma L Geoghegan,Andrea Mcneill

doi:10.3201/eid2803.212318

Abstract

In New Zealand, international arrivals are quarantined and undergo severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 screening; those who test positive are transferred to a managed isolation facility (MIF). Solo traveler A and person E from a 5-person travel group (BCDEF) tested positive. After transfer to the MIF, person A and group BCDEF occupied rooms >2 meters apart across a corridor. Persons B, C, and D subsequently tested positive; viral sequences matched A and were distinct from E. The MIF was the only shared location of persons A and B, C, and D, and they had no direct contact. Security camera footage revealed 4 brief episodes of simultaneous door opening during person A’s infectious period. This public health investigation demonstrates transmission from A to B, C, and D while in the MIF, with airborne transmission the most plausible explanation. These findings are of global importance for coronavirus disease public health interventions and infection control practices.

Highlights

In New Zealand, international arrivals are quarantined and undergo severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 screening; those who test positive are transferred to a managed isolation facility (MIF)
Travel group BCDEF arrived in New Zealand from the United Arab Emirates on July 14 and were quarantined together in MQF2
We concluded that an episode of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant occurred between person A, the index case-patient, and persons B, C, and D, the secondary case-patients, who were staying in separate nonadjacent rooms 2.135 meters apart within the MIF

Summary

Introduction

In New Zealand, international arrivals are quarantined and undergo severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 screening; those who test positive are transferred to a managed isolation facility (MIF). Persons who are identified as symptomatic at the border, have had a positive SARS-CoV-2 screening test, or who share the same MQF room as another SARS-CoV-2– positive person are immediately transferred from Their respective MQF to a single dedicated managed isolation facility (MIF) for confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases and close contacts. Solo traveler A and a 5-person travel group, BCDEF, had traveled on different flights from different countries, arrived in New Zealand on different dates, and been staying in different MQFs. Persons A and E had positive SARS-CoV-2 screening tests, which resulted in the transfer of A and group BCDEF to the MIF, on different dates, where they occupied rooms across the corridor, 2.135 meters (7 ft) apart. A comprehensive epidemiologic investigation was undertaken by public health to determine whether airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant had taken place between person A and persons B, C, and D, who were staying in separate, nonadjacent rooms >2 meters apart within the tightly monitored MIF

Methods

Results

Conclusion