She said Cabinet's testing strategy from late June had not been executed as expected, and she outlined three new measures. She said 500 more Defence Force personnel would be deployed to managed isolation facilities, bringing the total to 1200 Defence Force staff. That will bring the total Defence Force personnel supporting the Covid-19 response to around 1200 – the largest military contingent since Timor-Leste. Bloomfield welcomed the extra Defence Force staff and didn't see it as a vote of no confidence. Breakdown of 1200 Defence Force personnel:• 990 at Managed Isolation Facilities• 80 at Border• 70 in Police Traffic Management• 100 for electoral support.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 19, 2020 01:22 UTC