Covid-19: People linked to north Auckland cases wait days for results, have to be retested

Caroline Williams Reporter from Rodney Times

A number of people told to get tested because they had visited the same locations as two new Covid-19 cases in north Auckland had to be retested when no records of their results could be found days later.

Silverdale Medical Centre executive manager Ranyani Perera told Stuff staff received about a dozen calls from people tested at the Victor Eaves Park pop-up site, in Ōrewa, last Thursday or Friday who hadn’t received results up to four days later.

Among those who faced delays, was a Silverdale woman, who still didn't have her test result on Monday. She eventually had to make her own phone calls to get her result, despite being assured her test would be processed as a priority because she was considered a "casual plus contact" of the people infected.

“Selfishly, I wanted my test results, so I could go out. But you’ve potentially got this whole community of people who [authorities are] wanting to isolate five days later. If I wasn’t a good citizen and the risk was higher, I would have potentially been walking around Auckland all long weekend with Covid.”