Pmalleges guard ‘lied’ about testing
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has alleged a managed isolation hotel security guard who tested positive for the virus ‘‘lied’’ to his employer about getting surveillance tests.
The Government and managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) officials have been under pressure this week after it was revealed the guard, one of three workers to test positive at the Grand Millennium hotel, had not received a test in the legally required 14-day surveillance cycle since November. At a parliamentary committee hearing yesterday, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) chief executive Carolyn Tremain confirmed the last known Covid test the guard had was in November.
‘‘The individual was lying to their employer. Ultimately though, that employer needed to have checks and balances in place to make sure they were still doing what was required,’’ Ardern said, on the way into the House yesterday afternoon.
Ardern said the Government had sufficient ability to ensure the testing was occurring, however, employer First Security had failed to fulfil its obligation to ensure its staff were being tested.
‘‘Their employer is responsible for making sure they are fulfilling the regulations – that they are getting tested. If someone is not fulfilling the requirements and lying, you can see that presents issues.’’
She said the police and possibly Worksafe were involved.
‘‘We can put in regulations, we can put in a penalty regime.
‘‘We can put responsibility on employers but we need people to do the right thing. They . . . lied about the testing, yes we will follow up and see what the ramifications of that will be but we need everyone to play their part,’’ Ardern said.
First Security said the company had ‘‘current proof of up-to-date Covid-19 testing of all guards working at MIQ facilities’’.
The company would ensure a guard was tested if they were ‘‘non-compliant’’ with the testing regime, the statement said.
It also said guards were given health screenings by Ministry of Health staff prior to beginning a shift, which confirmed they were ‘‘fit for work’’.
‘‘As this individual is still recovering from the virus at the Jet Park quarantine facility we will not be commenting further on his case until he has been released and we are able to complete an investigation into his compliance with Covid-19 testing protocols.’’