Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 during Border Quarantine and Air Travel, New Zealand (Aotearoa)

Eichler, Nick; Thornley, Craig; Swadi, Tara; Devine, Tom; McElnay, Caroline; Sherwood, Jillian; Brunton, Cheryl; Williamson, Felicity; Freeman, Josh; Berger, Sarah; Ren, Xiaoyun; Storey, Matt; de Ligt, Joep; Geoghegan, Jemma L.

The strategy in New Zealand (Aotearoa) to eliminate coronavirus disease requires that international arrivals undergo managed isolation and quarantine and mandatory testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Combining genomic and epidemiologic data, we investigated the origin of an acute case of coronavirus disease identified in the community after the patient had spent 14 days in managed isolation and quarantine and had 2 negative test results. By combining genomic sequence analysis and epidemiologic investigations, we identified a multibranched chain of transmission of this virus, including on international and domestic flights, as well as a probable case of aerosol transmission without direct person-to-person contact. These findings show the power of integrating genomic and epidemiologic data to inform outbreak investigations.