A Northland woman who was deemed a close contact was forced to sleep in her car after being told there was no alternative accommodation available.
The woman says it's ridiculous and is worried about how vulnerable people would cope if they faced the same experience she did.
Anna-May Jensen is from Kerikeri and is currently in MIQ at the Naumi in Auckland.
But on Wednesday this week after being deemed a close contact of a workmate she was told there was no MIQ spot or emergency accommodation.
So she stayed the night in her Nissan March.
"I don't think sleeping in your car should ever be an option," Jensen told Newshub.
"I think it's ridiculous for anybody to be told that."
Jensen was in Auckland for an appointment, and was told not to return to Kerikeri given she'd need to stop on the way, and could give her flatmates the virus.
She was basically stranded.
Recordings of her ordeal with the Covid welfare line give an insight into what she went through.
She was told by a staff member there was no MIQ spot and to find a safe place to sleep in her car.
A COVID welfare line staff member asked her: "Do you have any family or friends that might be able to let you park on their property?"
Jensen replied: "Nowhere in Auckland unfortunately."
The COVID Welfare Line staff member told her not to worry about having a wash or a shower until "we get you to the MIQ tomorrow."
She slept in her car in a paddock with the cows in north Auckland.
The next day came and still no call back.
When she got hold of someone she was told her accommodation request had not been processed. Her frustration grew.
"I'm just really stressed out. I've been in my car for two days just getting nowhere," Jensen said in another call to the COVID line.
While trying to resolve her situation, there were lots of pauses while the chat went on hold.
And eventually late on Thursday night, another call from the covid welfare line apologising for the situation.
"There's been a bit of a f*** around. They didn't create a profile for you last night so we didn't have the link to be able to get you into MIQ," a staff member told her.
Jensen spoke to multiple people over the two days she spent in her car and she worries about how others would cope in the same situation.
"My concern is for the vulnerable population. Potentially parents or people who don't have any income to spend on phone calls, gas, all of that," she told Newshub.
Now that the situation's resolved it'll be 10 days here before she can finally get home to Kerikeri
Newshub sought comment from the Health Ministry and MBIE on why there was an issue getting Jensen into proper accommodation straight away.
The Ministry of Health told Newshub public health and welfare staff do all they can to support people who are isolating, but acknowledged there is pressure on the MIQ system.
"There can be limited alternative accommodation options for those who have travelled elsewhere, and as case numbers rise, support will be focused on those with high needs," a spokesperson told Newshub.
The Ministry reminded people who are going away for the long weekend, or leaving their home for any period of extended time, that they must be prepared to isolate where they are if they become a close contact or test positive.
A spokesperson told Newshub that could involve having to pay extra money for accommodation if you're not close to home.
If you have more information on this story contact Michael Morrah in confidence at michael_morrah@discovery.com
