Manukau District Court initially heard he had unspecified "symptoms" so was not brought into the courtroom, but stayed at the nearby police station custody hub.
But then Judge Philip Recordon was told the defendant was under police surveillance for his own well-being, for reasons not linked to Covid-19.
His defence lawyer Harvena-Ata Cherrington appeared for the hearing this afternoon by virtual meeting room.
She sought interim name suppression, and police did not oppose name suppression.
The alleged co-defendant, who is in hospital after the shooting, is yet to be charged and was also granted name suppression.
No bail application was made for the 28-year-old, so he will stay in custody at least until his next appearance on Tuesday morning.
Yesterday, the Herald reported police shot an armed man after the vehicle pursuit spanning several suburbs ended in a dead-end street.
Court and car registration details indicate the second car used by the allegedly fleeing driver was a 1997 Honda Civic.
Police said a black Holden was pursued before the driver swapped cars.
The man police shot was critically injured and taken by ambulance to Auckland City Hospital.
Inspector Matt Srhoj today said the hospitalised man was under police guard.
Police today urged members of the public who witnessed the incident to come forward.
