"I still feel there is a lot of under-reporting. A lot of employers are testing but the staff aren't necessarily reporting the result, even if it's a negative," Simpson said.
"We need to have that information available so we can then provide the appropriate level of support.
"There is an individual responsibility to report tests."
Whanganui DHB chief executive Russell Simpson. Photo / Bevan Conley
Simpson said around 95 per cent of people who contracted Omicron would have fairly mild symptoms that could be self managed, but it was the other 5 per cent of cases who required additional support.
"We need to make sure they have appropriate escalation pathways to either general practice or clinical care, right through to hospital-level care if it's needed."
The fact that Whanganui currently had no hospitalisations was testament to the health and welfare response occurring in the community, Simpson said.
"I want to reinforce that if people need hospital-level care, they shouldn't delay accessing it."
The latest modelling suggested Whanganui was tracking to its Omicron peak within the next fortnight.
"Every DHB in New Zealand has had a different starting point in terms of when first cases arrived," Simpson said.
"Again, I come back to the reporting. Without the true picture we are relying on a series of assumptions.
