The Ministry of Health has changed its testing protocols for bus drivers transporting returnees from airports to isolation hotels, saying they'll now be offered fortnightly tests for COVID-19.
On Tuesday, Newshub revealed there was concern drivers were not being regularly tested.
A source at the border said they were "amazed" drivers were not being tested when they're sometimes in coaches for hours ferrying returnees from Auckland Airport to hotels in Hamilton and Rotorua.
"They are at risk," the source said.
Another source told Newshub "drivers have never been tested for COVID-19, not even once".
The ministry responded on Tuesday saying "some" had been tested, but it has been unable to say exactly how many.
The ministry then clarified its statement by saying those that had been tested, had been tested as part of contact tracing, if it was established they had transported a person who had returned a positive result.
However, a programme of regular testing is now being introduced.
A ministry spokesperson told Newshub from Friday, all drivers around the country would be offered COVID-19 tests every two weeks.
"This will begin on Friday 7th August and be offered fortnightly for all drivers," a spokesperson told Newshub.
"All drivers have been supplied with a referral to have a test at any station. There are up to 40 drivers in Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Hamilton and Christchurch."
The ministry also wants to improve the data it collects on asymptomatic testing of workers at the border. Previously DHBs did not make a note of the specific role border workers played if they got a COVID-19 test.
"We are now working to identify tests by employee type," the spokesperson said.
As of August 3, 1089 people working at the border had been tested for COVID-19.
