2 Sep 2020

Covid-19:Govt too slow on bluetooth tech - Brownlee

From Morning Report, 6:10 am on 2 September 2020

The National Party says the Government has been too slow to roll out bluetooth technology for contact tracing.

It wants answers on how the relationship between one of the original backers for CovidCard and the Ministry of Health turned sour.

Tech entrepreneur Sam Morgan has backed away from the project, saying he was frustrated with CovidCard being bogged down with bureaucracy.

Government Digital Services Minister Kris Faafoi says two trials will still go ahead this month. The Government does have a licence to use CovidCard technology.

National's Covid-19 border response spokesperson Gerry Brownlee told political reporter Charlie Dreaver the relationship breakdown is unfortunate.