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The boss of a woman at the center of the new Covid outbreak has denied claims that he told her to work even though she felt ill.
Officials claimed this afternoon that the woman, in her 20s who worked at AZ Collections on High St in a customer-serving role, tried to phone her work at an Auckland CBD shop, but ended up showing up and wearing a mask.
The situation has been criticized by Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who says he is frustrated and disappointed by the incident.
It has led to a call for Auckland CBD employees to work from home tomorrow.
The woman became symptomatic on Monday and was examined on Tuesday.
But despite receiving advice to isolate himself, officials alleged that he spoke to his manager and went to work Wednesday wearing a mask.
But the store’s co-owner, who declined to give his name, told the Herald tonight those claims were not true. And he has called the lawyers.
“We never met the staff [member] she was sick, she never said she had a test done, “she said.
“We never knew he was feeling bad. We just want to tell the truth.”
The man said that he and his wife, who is the other co-owner of the store, have now investigated their attorney about the claims.
He also said that they had been the target of abusive messages on their cell phone and email account.
“We feel really unsafe,” he said.
In addition to the threats, they had been sent messages telling them to “go back to China”, while other messages included their home address.
Goff told NewstalkZB that the latest case was a big deal and the worst that could have happened.
He said Auckland could beat Covid again, but the Aucklanders had to follow the rules and work collectively.
The mayor also told RNZ that “this is not great news.”
“The worst thing that happened in this case is that the woman was told to isolate herself and then a store manager told her to come to work. That is frankly incredible.
“I just can’t understand that. It defies common sense. There’s a lesson in that, and you think it’s a lesson that people didn’t need to learn.”
Earlier, health chiefs said that people working in central Auckland are being asked to do their work from home if possible tomorrow.
Public Health Director Caroline McElnay said there was a detailed interview with the confirmed case.
The woman has a customer-facing role in her work at AZ Collections on Auckland’s High St, McElnay said.
He called work because he was told to isolate himself, but after a conversation with his manager he went to work and put on a mask.
The three close contacts of the woman are colleagues and friends and are being transferred to a border hotel. Everyone is reportedly feeling fine.
The woman also took several “very short” Uber trips to work and drivers are being contacted to ask them to isolate themselves.
The women’s movements have been released.
These include:
- Smith and Caughey’s on Queen St on Saturday, November 7 (3.50–6pm).
- Red Pig Restaurant, Kitchener St on Saturday, November 7 (6 – 8:30 p.m.)
- Takeout from Starbucks Queen St and Sunnytown Restaurant on Sunday, November 8 (11.30-11.45 AM).
- Takeaway from The Gateau House on Queen St Sunday, November 8 (6.40-6.50pm)
- Takeout from Starbucks Queen St and Sunnytown Restaurant, Lorne St, Monday, November 9 (11.31-11.40 am)
Anyone in the Auckland area and throughout New Zealand should stay home if they have cold or flu symptoms, he said.
As a precaution, Auckland residents who work in the CBD should work from home tomorrow, McElnay said, and if you have to go to that area, you should wear a mask.
The female swab is processed overnight for genome sequencing and has been received by ESR.
An incident involving a fire alarm, where people in controlled isolation mingled with guests of the apartment where the woman lives, is not likely to be a source of infection for the case, as it was at 8 p.m. Monday by the night.
