Imported frozen foods may have caused New Zealand's new coronavirus outbreak. But it's very rare to get sick from such packages.

Thomas Peter/Reuters

• New Zealand's recent COVID-19 outbreak could be traced back to imported frozen goods, officials said.
• Chinese officials also found traces of coronavirus on imported frozen foods from South America.
• But experts say the risk of catching COVID-19 from packages — frozen or otherwise — is low.
• Though viral particles can survive for a time on cardboard and plastic, the coronavirus "does not spread easily" from contaminated surfaces, according to the CDC.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

New Zealand reported its first case of COVID-19 in more than 100 days on Tuesday. It's possible the virus arrived via imported food packages.

The country's health officials suggested the new outbreak may be linked to these frozen goods because one of the infected patients works at a store that orders such items from overseas, Reuters reported on Thursday.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

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