A microbiologist has scolded Simon Bridges for sowing fear over the Covid-19 outbreak.

Dr Siouxsie Wiles today criticised the National Party leader's behaviour in an open letter.

She claims we don't need elected representatives undermining important messages from Government, scientists and health officials.

Dr Wiles told Heather Du Plessis-Allan we need a united front.

"You need everybody to be on the same page here, that panic is not the way to go. So I've been concerned that he's been poking things that he doesn't need to poke."

She also called out National's MP for Hamilton East David Bennett for encouraging panic-buying.

Dr Wiles says people can prepare to self-isolate without hoarding.

"This is not a year's worth of toilet roll, it's do you have a couple of weeks of nice, yummy food in your pantry, do you have cat food and dog food?"

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