Dawn chorus: Panic testing queues in Northland
Thousands queue for up to seven hours as Northland's Covid-19 tourist is found to have more infectious strain; Moderna warns its vaccine less effective against this strain; Australia closes NZ bubble
TLDR: Covid-19 testing sites in Whangarei and Mangawhai were overwhelmed yesterday as thousands of locals queued for hours for tests, worried they may have caught the South African strain identified in the Northland tourist who spent eight days visiting 30 sites around the region.
Meanwhile, Australia suspended quarantine-free travel arrangements with New Zealand for at least 72 hours and the National Party cancelled its caucus retreat in Whangarei next week and shifted it to Wellington. Cabinet meets for the first time in 2021 later today.
Overseas, Moderna warned its vaccine was generating a much lower antibody response to the South African strain and it was developing a new version in response. Also, Dominion Voting Systems sued Rudy Giuliani for US$1.3b over his dafamatory comments about election fraud.
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Have a great day.
Kia Kite ano
Bernard
PS: Thanks to Martin again for today’s kaka picture.