Health officials did not warn the public about a COVID-19 case at an Auckland spa because all the close contacts had already been informed.
US actor Wade Williams told CNN on Wednesday night he is quarantining after being exposed to a positive case at an Auckland massage parlour.
A Ministry of Health spokesperson on Thursday explained they didn't disclose names or comments on individual cases due to privacy.
"Places of interest are often publicised as a public health precaution where a case may have a number of casual contacts," the spokesperson said.
"Places where all contacts are able to be identified and contacted by the public health unit are not generally communicated - this is one of those situations."
Williams told CNN he got the massage on Thursday afternoon, and was contacted by health officials on Saturday morning.
"I went to a nice spot and had a massage and I happened to lay on the massage table with my face in that little hole that somebody - who had tested positive [for] COVID - had just been in, right before I went in."
"Even though they cleaned the table and they changed the sheets and they cleaned the room and wore masks and [took] temperatures, they were concerned I might get it."
"By the end of that day or the next morning I was in quarantine for 14 days - and I'm happy to do it, to be honest with you."
The US actor, however, applauded New Zealand's border management and said the country had done a "really good job".
Williams said he was informed by the Government on how to use their app.
"They know you've been somewhere, and who's been there with you. They know pretty quickly if there's been someone there with you that had tested positive."
