A good samaritan is in isolation and two officers have been stood down after a distressed woman taken to the Ōrewa police station last week was later found to be infected with COVID-19.
In a Facebook post, Whangaparāoa MP Mark Mitchell says a member of the community stopped to help the distressed woman who'd been "dumped on the side of the road with a bundle of clothes by a highly agitated male" on Thursday. Both were later found to be infected with COVID-19.
"They were both shouting at and abusing one another. The male left speeding along Hibiscus Coast Highway driving in an erratic manner," said Mitchell, a National MP.
He said the community member then approached the woman and asked if she needed help.
Mitchell said the man drove her to the Ōrewa police station, where they were met by two local officers.
"He then returned to his home. Ten minutes later, he received a call from the officer dealing with the case to say that the female was positive for COVID-19 Delta, along with the male who had dumped her.
"They were meant to be home isolating together.
"I hate to think what might have happened without their intervention and action. Had she wandered into the centre of Ōrewa with two major supermarkets open, the situation could have been a lot worse."
In an interview with the NZ Herald the man who stepped in to help, Roger Mattson, said it was a frustrating situation.
"The biggest thing for me is the fact that there are COVID-positive people running around in the community," said Matson, who's also a former police officer.
"I thought they'd be in MIQ but obviously that's not the case," Matson told the Herald.
Mitchell said he's been lobbying since Thursday to get the infected pair into MIQ.
"At [the] time of writing the female is contained in home isolation; the male is contained in home isolation in a different location," Mitchell said on Sunday.
He said the pair had breached the rules and put people at risk.
"I have been working solidly since Thursday to have them both taken into managed isolation. This decision lies with the Ministry of Health and not the police.
"In my view, they have forfeited the right to home isolation.
"I will continue to reinforce this point with the Ministry of Health and Government until they are taken into managed isolation."
Police confirmed to Newshub two constables were in isolation at home as a result of the interaction.
"The two police officers were wearing masks throughout the interaction, as was the person," a spokesperson said. "The areas of Ōrewa police station visited by the person have undergone a deep-cleaning process."
Police directed further questions to the Ministry of Health, which has been contacted for comment.