16 Apr 2020

Coronavirus: Key government adviser still waiting on crucial data

From Morning Report, 8:14 am on 16 April 2020

One of the Government's key pandemic advisors say he is still in the dark over whether this country has good enough border control, testing and tracing systems to keep the coronavirus at bay.

Cabinet will decide on Monday whether the country is ready to move out of four weeks of lockdown.

Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker is on the Covid-19 technical advisory group but says he has not yet seen crucial data despite asking the Ministry of Health for weeks.

He told RNZ reporter Phil Pennnington one critical piece of information is how many days it takes to identify and quarantine all close contacts of a person who tests positive.

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