Women did not drive non-stop

The Ministry of Health has confirmed two women diagnosed with Covid-19 after leaving a managed isolation facility in Auckland did not drive non-stop to Wellington.

Health officials had insisted they did, but Stuff revealed the pair got lost, stopped and met someone.

National’s health spokesman Michael Woodhouse raised the issue in the House yesterday.

He said his source said the car was borrowed, and the sisters drove the wrong way out of Auckland and someone they knew went to find them to point them in the right direction.

He also questioned how the borrowed car was obtained, if contact was made there too and if it had been cleaned.

Politicians had questioned the validity of the claims but the Ministry of Health said last night that the journey between Auckland and Wellington, taken by two New Zealanders with Covid-19 who returned to New Zealand to see their dying parent had been confirmed. ‘‘Upon leaving the Novotel in a private vehicle provided by friends, the women got lost on the Auckland motorway system.

‘‘On realising this they phoned the same friends who supplied the vehicle, who met and guided them to the correct motorway, so they could go in the right direction. As part of this the pair were in limited physical contact with the two friends for approximately five minutes.’’

In addition, health authorities had been informed of instances where friends have made contactless deliveries of food or care packages to the women while they have been in self-isolation in recent days.

The packages were contactless deliveries and the friends who had delivered the packages had taken all appropriate precautions to maintain physical distance, the statement said.

‘‘As such there is no risk to the community from these interactions.’’

A second interview with the sisters was conducted by the local public health unit on Tuesday evening and there were subsequent interviews yesterday.

The statement says the information was communicated to the Ministry of Health yesterday afternoon.

During Question Time, Woodhouse asked Health Minister David Clark if he had seen reports that the pair went the wrong way on their journey to Wellington and came into close contact with people who gave them directions.

‘‘And the good Samaritans who assisted them were rewarded with a kiss and a cuddle.’’

Clark had not heard about the report and said he would be deeply concerned if that was the case.

‘‘I have been assured there has been no contact on the journey.’’

Woodhouse also asked for confirmation that the 196 other people granted compassionate exemptions in managed isolation were tested before leaving.

Clark said that was an ongoing inquiry. He later confirmed that he did not know how many people may have left self- isolation and were not tested.

He avoided questions about taking accountability and his resignation.

‘‘Ministers were of the understanding that people were being tested before they left ... this is unacceptable what happened here.’’

He said director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield had owned this failing and was getting on with fixing it.