Auckland University's Professor Des Gorman says he can't understand why government rhetoric about Covid preparedness and testing, wasn't matched with action.
Health officials are now rushing to test more isolation staff as they step up efforts to trace the origin of the Covid-19 cluster.
Up to a couple of days before Auckland's covid outbreak - only around 36 % of all border and hotel isolation workers in the city had been tested.
Meanwhile, South Auckland doctor Dr Api Talemaitoga and chair of the College of GP's Pacific Chapter says it's a particularly anxious time for pacific communities.
He's also disappointed at the low levels of testing on Auckland border and hotel isolation workers.
There are currently 17 active cases of the virus outside of managed isolation, all in Auckland. For he country to move to Alert Level 4 there would need to be a number of clusters and unconnected cases. At 5.30pm the Prime Minister will announce the plan.
