A Covid-infected MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) security guard told his employer he was having regular tests - but had not had one since November, the Government has revealed.
Covid-19 Recovery Minister Chris Hipkins said the man, known as Case B, was supplying information to their employer that they were being regularly tested - though that does not appear to be case.
He said the investigation was ongoing, but "it does appear some of the information provided by the individual to the employer doesn't match up with the (employer's) record of tests ".
Case B's casual and close contacts had all tested negative except for Case C, a fellow guard.
He said the police were called to help get information about Case B's locations of interest.
Director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield said police were called in on Friday afternoon due to discrepancies with the working hours and language translation issues with Case B, who volunteered phone records and bank statements.
A fee of $300 or a fine of $1000 were the penalties for non-compliance, but Hipkins said an investigation was still ongoing into Case B.
Individuals were reminded to get tested via text message, and employers were also required to make sure their staff were being regularly tested.
Bloomfield said Case B's employer had kept their own records and was also using the border worker testing register.
Hipkins said making the register mandatory and matching that data with the sign-in data in MIQ would make the system more robust.
He said there were several companies working at the border which made the data challenges a "complex beast".
The register will also be able to hold both vaccine and testing data.
Hipkins said the vast bulk of border workers were diligent about being tested.
"With any system that involves thousands of people, there is a risk of issues at the margin. That appears to be the case here."
Looking at the number of tests for border workers showed largely that there was compliance for routine testing.
Two new cases in MIQ
There are two new Covid cases today, both in managed isolation. They are travellers from India and Pakistan.
There are no new community cases today, Bloomfield said.
The seven-day rolling average of border cases is now eight.
He said the total number of active cases today is 101.
Vaccines
Hipkins said 135,585 doses had been administered, including 7695 in the last 24 hours.
He said 43 percent had been delivered in Auckland, 19 percent of whom are Māori or Pasifika.
Up until the end of June, more than 1 million additional doses would be delivered, he said.
This was based on discussions with DHBs on what they can deliver. Weekly updates against the forecast numbers would be provided each Wednesday.
The numbers show "we're on track" to start group three - vulnerable people and those with underlying medical conditions - on time.
Hipkins said 88.5 percent of MIQ workers had been vaccinated as of last night; 513 MIQ workers were still to get their first jab.
A breakdown would be provided of border workers by region, he said.
He signed an order last night to make it mandatory for employers to use the border worker testing register from April 27.
Currently employees had a legal obligation to get tested, and for employers to keep a record of those tests, but only about 60 per cent of the employers have been using the register so far.
A mandatory register would make it easier to keep track of who has been tested. The register notified workers about their upcoming tests, and employers about their employees' tests, Hipkins said.
Additional groups would also be captured with the new order, he said, and it also increased the frequency of how often certain border workers would need to be tested.
All MIQ workers would need to be tested weekly.
Bloomfield said 760,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine can be stored in freezers in Auckland, which currently has 315,000 doses. There are two other freezers in Christchurch.
He said Medsafe had approved its storage at -20C for two weeks, which was more practical in getting the vaccine to more remote areas.
Bloomfield said he was confident with the vaccine roll-out. A new clinic was opening today at Waitakere Hospital in Henderson, and a site has also opened in the CBD in Elliott St. A marae-based clinic also opened last week.
Vaccination at those centres so far were by invitation only.
He said there were new functions on the NZ Covid Tracer app, including a new "swirl" symbol for when people use the app every day for 14 days. Bloomfield was currently on 13 days, he said. Hipkins said he was on 11 days.
Hipkins said more returnees from countries other than Australia were expected after the transtasman bubble was announced. He said the suspension of travel from India also freed up more MIQ rooms.
"There are more rooms available. There are a good spread of rooms available over the next few months."
