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| Minister falls victim to ‘moronic’ Covid prank | Minister falls victim to ‘moronic’ Covid prank |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A positive Covid-19 test was logged under a senior Australian health official’s name | A positive Covid-19 test was logged under a senior Australian health official’s name |
| Under the system launched in NSW last week, people must log their positive rapid antigen test results online through a state-run app or website. The measure helps officials track the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus and tailor the response to the pandemic. | Under the system launched in NSW last week, people must log their positive rapid antigen test results online through a state-run app or website. The measure helps officials track the spread of the Delta and Omicron variants of the virus and tailor the response to the pandemic. |
| However, someone decided to misuse the system to prank the state’s top health official, as Hazzard himself revealed on Tuesday. | However, someone decided to misuse the system to prank the state’s top health official, as Hazzard himself revealed on Tuesday. |
| “Some people think it’s a joke. Or maybe it’s worse than that – perhaps, it’s malicious,” a visibly angry Hazzard told reporters. “I can now speak from personal experience. I received notification yesterday and again today… that apparently somebody has put my name in there.” | “Some people think it’s a joke. Or maybe it’s worse than that – perhaps, it’s malicious,” a visibly angry Hazzard told reporters. “I can now speak from personal experience. I received notification yesterday and again today… that apparently somebody has put my name in there.” |
| “First of all, it’s extremely irresponsible,” the minister said. “It is juvenile, it is moronic, but it is also just so disappointing to think that you would actually undermine an incredible, hard-working public health team here in New South Wales trying to keep us safe.” | “First of all, it’s extremely irresponsible,” the minister said. “It is juvenile, it is moronic, but it is also just so disappointing to think that you would actually undermine an incredible, hard-working public health team here in New South Wales trying to keep us safe.” |
| Police launched an investigation into the fake test results under Hazzard’s name. “Not only is this a nuisance, it also corrupts valuable pandemic data relied upon to support essential services. This is not a joke and is a criminal offence,” Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, the state’s cybercrime squad commander, said. | Police launched an investigation into the fake test results under Hazzard’s name. “Not only is this a nuisance, it also corrupts valuable pandemic data relied upon to support essential services. This is not a joke and is a criminal offence,” Detective Superintendent Matt Craft, the state’s cybercrime squad commander, said. |
| Failure to report a positive rapid antigen test is punishable by a AU$1,000 fine ($720). | Failure to report a positive rapid antigen test is punishable by a AU$1,000 fine ($720). |
| More than 50,000 NSW residents logged their test results just hours after the service went live last week, according to Australian Associated Press. | More than 50,000 NSW residents logged their test results just hours after the service went live last week, according to Australian Associated Press. |
| Authorities reported 77 new deaths from Covid across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Canberra capital territory on Tuesday – the highest daily death toll in Australia since the pandemic began. | Authorities reported 77 new deaths from Covid across NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and the Canberra capital territory on Tuesday – the highest daily death toll in Australia since the pandemic began. |