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The Health Ministry responded today to allegations by Case D, an Auckland woman who was diagnosed with Covid-19 on November 12, that she did not have access to a translator during interviews.
AZ Collective on High St, Auckland. Source: 1 NEWS
Yesterday, the woman in her 20s referred to as Case D submitted an affidavit saying that the ministry did not assign her a translator until yesterday.
She said in the statement that her primary language is Mandarin and suggested that what she said had been misinterpreted: She said she had not reported sick and had been forced to work after a conversation with her manager, as the Ministry said on Thursday.
The Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Caroline McElnay, said during Thursday’s briefing that the woman in her 20s became symptomatic on November 9, took the test on November 10 and went to work. on November 11, despite being asked to isolate himself.
In its statement yesterday, Case D said; “On the 11th, my sore throat was gone and I didn’t feel any discomfort, so I went to work. I wore a mask just to be safe. My employer has instructed us to wear a mask whenever possible. It’s not unusual for that we wore masks at work, so my manager, coworkers and clients didn’t care. I didn’t think there was any chance that I had coronavirus. “
He said that he did not tell his boss or his manager the above and did not ask for permission at any time.
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The infected person works in a clothing store on the High Street and lives in the center of the city. Source: Breakfast
“I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
However, the woman learned on the morning of November 12 that she had tested positive for coronavirus and says she “cooperated with the government to take quarantine measures.” It was then that the government arranged for staff to interview her and trace her contacts and movements, she said.
Case D alleged yesterday in his affidavit sent to 1 NEWS by his lawyer, that he had asked “many times” for a translator to be appointed and that the staff made “many mistakes” when recording his information. However, the ministry said that today the woman chose to speak in English, not Mandarin.
“Today, November 13, after having to ask many times, the Government has finally organized a Chinese translation service for me to communicate with the search team. Once they speak to me again, without the language barrier, I hope they can restore the truth and the media can report the true story, “Case D said in his statement.
She also alleged that the lack of a translator has led to a misunderstanding that has led to harassment of her and her employers.
But today, a spokesman for the Ministry of Health said that “the Ministry endorses the information it released publicly as a true reflection of the information that was provided to it.”
“The Auckland Regional Public Health Service informed the Ministry that a Chinese-speaking nurse attended the interviews and offered to interpret, but that the case chose to speak in English.
The spokesperson said that “all case interviews are recorded with detailed notes and contain personal health information,” so the notes will not be released.
“Relevant information obtained from these interviews, which helps to manage public health risk, is made public,” the spokesperson said, saying that “the ARPHS process requires that an interpreter be offered to all cases if English is a second language. “
The ministry spokesman said that the latest information does not substantially affect the public health actions that are being taken.
