15 Feb 2022

Omicron outbreak: High demand for Covid-19 testing in Auckland for second day

4:37 pm on 15 February 2022

With lengthy queues again reported at Covid-19 testing centres in Auckland, up to 70 percent of those queuing do not have symptoms, health authorities say.

Queue at  Covid-19 testing centre in Auckland on 15 February 2022.

Photo: Supplied / Te Whānau O Waipareira

Waits of up to two hours have been reported for the second day in a row, as the Northern Region Health Coordination Centre grapples with 'very high' demand.

The Northern Region Health Coordination Centre said it was recording very high demand, similar to the peak of the Delta outbreak.

Due to a long line of cars waiting outside a testing site in Botany, Auckland Transport is warning people to expect delays and detours for four bus services.

However, queues at the Balmoral testing site had eased.

Health authorities asked people to stay away from testing sites unless they had cold or flu symptoms, had been at a location of interest, or had been asked to get tested by a health official.

Chief clinical officer Andrew Old said the number of people arriving without symptoms had increased from 50 percent to 70 percent.

The Ministry of Health said unnecessary testing could delay results for people who urgently needed them.

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