A leading coronavirus expert is calling on the Government to make QR code scanning at potential "super-spreader" venues like bars and nightclubs mandatory, amid continued low use of the COVID-19 tracer app.

Epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker says the next six months would be a "very dangerous" time for the country, with high risk of an outbreak while waiting for the vaccine roll-out to begin.

Both the US and the UK are experiencing unprecedented peaks in https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/260170-appeal-information-on-missing-art.html with the worldwide death toll reaching the grim milestone of two million.

But with no community transmission here, daily use of the Covid Tracer app has fallen off dramatically, down to a fifth of its peak which is causing concern among experts.

Last Monday, a total of 515,759 scans were recorded nationwide, down from the high of 2.5 million on September 4.

Baker says contact tracing of community cases had prevented wider transmission.

Meanwhile, New Zealand health officials are trying to learn more about two travellers on an Auckland to Fiji flight who tested positive for the virus.

The two cases were detected during mandatory tests while the pair were in managed isolation in Nadi.

Both cases had arrived in Fiji on Air New Zealand flight NZ952 from New Zealand on December 24, 2020.

Despite moving through Auckland, a Ministry of Health spokesman said there was no "additional risk" posed by the cases.

Global toll

Over 94.7 million people have been infected by COVID-19 worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The United States continues to record the most infections and fatalities - 23.8 million cases, 396,549 deaths. India and Brazil have also recorded high concentrations of cases and deaths - India has reported 10.5 million cases and 152,274 deaths, Brazil has 8.4 million cases and 209,296 deaths. To date, 2 million people have died from the virus.

International researchers from the World Health Organisation – WHO- are in Wuhan, China, to find clues to the origin of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new Brazilian variant has also been identified. It shares similarities with the highly-infectious variants from the UK and South Africa. The discovery prompted the UK government to ban flights from 13 South American countries, Panama, Cape Verde and Portugal.

What should I do?

Anyone who wants to get tested can find their local testing centres by visiting the Ministry of Health website.

New Zealand is at COVID-19 alert level 1.

Masks are mandatory for: people travelling on public transport services in and out of the Auckland region; the drivers of small passenger service vehicles in Auckland, such as taxis and app-based ride services; and people travelling on passenger flights throughout New Zealand.

If you are sick, call your GP before you visit, or Healthline on 0800 358 5453.

To avoid contracting and spreading the virus, wash your hands properly, cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow and throw tissues away immediately.

Reach out, find support from people who care, connect with your community or help a neighbour in need.

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