People with coronavirus-type symptoms are reportedly being turned away from testing at Wellington Hospital because they don't fit strict criteria.
As the Government awaits the results of two more people "highly suspicious" of having the virus, a senior Wellington Hospital doctor has told Stuff, under the condition of anonymity, that tests for Covid-19 were being refused for patients, even if they were showing symptoms of the virus.
These are people who had been to countries including the United States, parts of Europe, Vietnam, and Australia.
"Each of these regions has instances of apparent community coronavirus spread," the doctor said.
"The tests are declined because these regions do not fit the current Ministry of Health case definition for suspected covid-19 disease.
"The rationing of coronavirus testing will undoubtedly lead to some missed or delayed diagnoses, and contribute to community spread."
The doctor believed it was probably too late to avoid a New Zealand epidemic but argued the opportunity to limit or delay the spread of the disease was being missed.
His story is backed up by a case brought to Wellington-based list MP Nicola Willis' office on Monday.
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The man's son worked in a business in the central city where he dealt with many tourists.
When he fell ill a couple of days ago with a high temperature and flu-like symptoms, his parents rang Healthline who said he should go to hospital.
But at hospital - thought to be Wellington - he met all the covid-19 symptoms but did not meet the criteria for testing so was given Panadol and sent home.
Willis said the situation seemed concerning and people needed more clarity about when or if they would get tested.
"People just want to do the right thing - what is it?"
Capital and Coast District Health Board clinical leader for infectious diseases Dr Michelle Balm said they did not recommend people coming forward without having any symptoms or travel history for testing for coronavirus.
"We recommend testing according to the case definition as per the Ministry of Health.
"One of the reasons is we know the test performs best in people with symptoms, and is most reliable in people with symptoms.
"We don't think based on current information that a test being done on someone without symptoms will give them the reassurance required."
A "random cough" would not be enough, she said.
Most reports from the tens of thousands of cases overseas showed that the symptoms were very mild, she said.
"Eight per cent of people have mild symptoms, so for those people even not knowing the name of the virus doesn't necessarily matter ... they will be okay on just the same advice we give for other respiratory viruses.
"Rest, staying at home, keep your fluids up, and try and not come in to contact with other people."
"Threat behaviour" meant that people were panicking, she said.
"We get very complacent about common threats that we're used to ... none of us think twice about getting in a car."
Ministry of Health criteria was that anyone who had travelled from a country of concern or had close contact with a covid-19 victim, and had compatible symptoms, should be tested.
On Monday afternoon director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said two more people in New Zealand were being tested and authorities are "highly suspicious" they had contracted coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the country's coronavirus travel restrictions have been extended. China and Iran have had their travel restrictions extended for another week and people entering the country from South Korea and northern Italy will also be told to go into self-isolation when they arrive.
