COVID-19: Whangarei 'ran out of swabs', experiencing a possible test shortage

Some GPs in New Zealand are still experiencing a shortage of the swabs needed to carry out a COVID-19 test.

Whangarei GP Dr Geoff Cunningham has been so overwhelmed with people wanting to take a test that his city has ran out of swabs.

"Any cough and cold that may sit at home has been coming in to see us. Yesterday we ran out of swabs, there were no swabs left in Whangarei."

Twenty swabs were delivered to his clinic on Wednesday morning, which was barely enough to last the day.

"There seems to be possibly a shortage."

Over 9000 tests were completed on Tuesday according to the Ministry of Health, which is the highest day of testing since it began.

It continued on Wednesday as cars backed up as far as the eye could see at one testing station, all full of people wanting to be tested.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says this level of testing is sustainable and reassures the public there's no evidence of community transmission.

"I think it's been a reminder to people, we are in a very fortunate position here to be in alert level 1. However we need to remain incredibly vigilant and I continue to encourage people if they do have symptoms to be tested."

So the focus is remaining on the border. Those entering the country have their first test in managed isolation on day three rather than at the border, because it's more accurate. 

"We know that testing then is more likely to pick up infection than earlier testing when people may be incubating the virus but not test positive," Dr Bloomfield says.

Epidemiologist Dr Siouxsie Wiles supports testing on day three.

"Waiting a few days after they've arrived will help in case they were just in the very early stages, so there might not be any virus detected. It also helps in case they have become infected in transit."

She says because tests can show a false negative, strict isolation remains the most important prevention.