16 Sep 2021

Covid-19: Truck driver who crossed border tests positive

4:58 pm on 16 September 2021

One of today's new community cases was a truck driver who has travelled across the Auckland border, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield has revealed today.

A police checkpoint at Mercer, Auckland.

Photo: RNZ

There were 13 new community cases reported today, including the truck driver who crossed the border to make essential deliveries, Dr Bloomfield said.

The truck driver has recently travelled to Hamilton, Tauranga and Cambridge.

The driver was previously tested on 22 August. They work for food provision services and their contact was limited to deliveries and drop-offs.

Dr Bloomfield said the driver was tested after isolating as a household contact and health authorities are now trying to determine any locations of interest.

"There may be exposure events," Dr Bloomfield says.

He says this underlines the importance of testing at the Auckland border, which becomes mandatory tonight.

Police will be checking on that requirement at the borders tonight and those who cannot provide confirmation of testing will be turned back.

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