An Auckland father is furious after being hospitalised with COVID-19 despite being denied a test for the virus twice.
Geoff Mulianga Brown is part of a large COVID-19 "cluster" related to Marist College.
Brown posted a video to Facebook, saying New Zealand needs to put "people before process".
"It shouldn't be this hard to get tested," Brown said from his hospital bed.
"I felt sick on 20th March and when I say sick I mean chronically ill, bedridden,"
He says he went to get tested for the virus but was turned away as his symptoms were not severe enough.
"Long story short you just have to keep pushing hard to get tested - I was turned away twice over four days," he said.
Brown says his condition deteriorated rapidly.
"I had pain all through my back, my sides...I literally couldn't breathe, it was short, rapid," he said.
Finally, Healthline advised him to come into the hospital where he tested positive and was isolated and treated.
Over the course of a week Brown slowly began to improve.
"I couldn't care what I had, I just wanted to get better and make sure I didn't put any more stress on others," he said.
"I'm feeling better - I'm not happy with the process and how difficult it was. To those who are struggling now - just push the envelope, put yourself first."
On Tuesday the Government widened the COVID-19 testing criteria to ensure anyone who shows symptoms of the virus can be tested.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said GPS and testing stations would be notified of the changes over the coming days.
"I do expect the number of people tested in New Zealand to grow - and it needs to grow," she said.
