A staff member at the Office of the Auditor-General has tested positive for the coronavirus.

But Heather Thomas said most staff had been working remotely since January.

Her office remains closed to walk-ins and a deep clean is now scheduled.

The news came as Ms Thomas said trust in the public sector had “never been more critical” than during the Government’s pandemic efforts, after she delivered a qualified audit of the Consolidated Fund.

The financials for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020 were tabled on Friday by Curtis Dickinson, the finance minister.

Heather Thomas said her job was to inform Parliament and the public that the accounts “can be trusted”.

But Ms Thomas said she had been unable to get sufficient evidence covering $8 million in government inventories.

It affected the Ministry of Public Works headquarters and the Department of Marine and Ports.

Ms Thomas said the impact of Covid-19 on the Consolidated Fund, along with efforts to reopen the economy, could not be forecast “with any precision”.

The Auditor-General’s opinion also highlighted the Caroline Bay development at Morgan’s Point as “a matter of significance”.

Costs to the Government for the stalled development added up to $203.1 million at the time of her opinion.

No accurate value for the assets could be given, or the costs associated with recovering them.

Ms Thomas said the usefulness of the financials was “limited”.

But she congratulated the Government for releasing “for the first time” its financial statement discussion analysis with the audited financial statements.

Ms Thomas said it would enhance readers’ “understanding of the Government’s financial position”.

Staff at the office of the Auditor-General can be reached at 296-3148, and queries can be sent to oag@oagbermuda.bm.