Ministerial Statements — COVID-19 Outbreak—New Zealand Response

I wish to make a ministerial statement in accordance with Standing Order 355 about the novel coronavirus. The novel coronavirus, recently named as COVID-19, was first reported to the World Health Organization on 31 December. As members will be aware, since that time there have been more than 43,000 cases and over 1,000 deaths—the vast majority within China. In New Zealand, we have not yet had a confirmed case but we are taking the threat very seriously and we are well prepared. Our comprehensive health response began on 6 January when the Ministry of Health first sent out advice to DHBs and primary care about the virus. Arrangements were quickly made to ensure that health advice was being provided at the border in a range of languages, including traditional and simplified Chinese.

I’m advised that providing clear health advice remains our best protection against the spread of the coronavirus, and that remains a key part of our ongoing response to this issue. An incident control team was set up within the ministry in the week of 20 January. That same week, on 24 January, the Government’s interagency pandemic group met as a precaution. At all times our response to the coronavirus has been informed by the best available public health advice from doctors and clinical experts. That advice and our response are under constant review to ensure we continue to follow best practice and work closely with our international partners.

Based on expert public health advice, on 27 January we deployed public health nurses at Christchurch and Auckland international airports to meet all flights from mainland China, to provide advice and check anyone displaying symptoms. Those measures are ongoing. On 28 January, Cabinet met for the first time this year and made the novel coronavirus a notifiable disease under the Health Act—that means we have all the appropriate public health powers in place to deal with the COVID-19 if and when it arrives in New Zealand.

That same day the Ministry of Health activated the National Health Coordination Centre, which is operating seven days a week to monitor the situation and which provides updated advice on a daily basis. Our response to the coronavirus has been measured and responsive. As the number of cases has increased and disease has spread, we have been constantly reviewing our position to ensure we are doing what is required to keep New Zealanders safe.

On Monday, 3 February the Government introduced travel restrictions that prevent anyone other than New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who have been in China in the last 14 days from entering New Zealand. This step was not taken lightly but followed updated health advice and was in step with Australia, the US, and several other countries—more have since followed suit. I would note that our border restrictions complement the actions taken by the Chinese Government to contain this virus within its borders. No country has taken stricter measures at their border than China itself.

All New Zealanders who have been in China in the last 14 days and have returned home since the travel restrictions were introduced have been asked to go into self-isolation for 14 days, which is believed to be longer than the incubation period of this virus. Previous experience suggests that self-isolation compliance rates will be high, as people are conscious of the risks that infectious diseases pose to their family, whānau, and community. For example, during the 2009 influenza pandemic there were high rates of compliance in the initial weeks of the event and the ministry did not need to use any powers to ensure self-isolation. So far more than 1,800 people have self-registered with Healthline about their isolation. Healthline staff are keeping in regular contact with those people to provide them advice and support and to check on their welfare. Customs and the Ministry of Health are also sharing data to enable Healthline to proactively contact anyone who has returned from China but has yet to register with Healthline.

Members will also be aware that the Government arranged an evacuation flight for New Zealanders and Pacific Island citizens in the city of Wuhan: 157 people remain in isolation at the military facility at Whangaparāoa. They are receiving regular health checks, and if anyone displays any symptoms, no matter how mild, they are being tested for coronavirus. To date, no one has tested positive.

New Zealand is well placed to respond to emerging infectious diseases, we have a strong public health service and a longstanding—

Order! The member’s time has expired.

I rise to speak on this matter, given its significance for New Zealand and globally, and also given the significant uncertainty there is in relation to this matter. I want to say from the outset, on the coronavirus, that the Opposition stand ready to collaborate and to work with the Government on this matter of great importance, in every facet of it. I myself have been thinking about it from very early on, when I heard about it in China, and making sure every single day I understand what is happening on it. Indeed, that’s partly why my health spokesperson was very quick to call for actions in this area, and there’s been some criticism of that, but I make no apology on an issue of this significance for the Opposition and National Party to hold the Government to account on it.

I regret that at every single step of the way, my clear view is that the Government has done too little, too late. We’ve had comprehensive analysis conducted on where the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States have been, and at every step, as they have done things, we have been several days behind them. I could run through that in some detail, but I simply want to touch on screening, and the many examples I’ve been told about from members of my caucus, from members of the public who’ve spoken to me about this issue. In theory, there is screening happening now in New Zealand from affected flights coming to New Zealand. This weekend, for example—and it is the only one I will give—I talked to a constituent of mine on the telephone who in fact lives very close to where I live. His clear view, bringing his family back from a neighbouring province and with great concerns about the effect of this on them, was that there was nothing that happened as they came through New Zealand—no screening, no checks, no nothing. What is also true is that as I rang him, because he’d contacted my office and I think I’ve met him before, he was out in self-isolation in a public space where many other people were, and he’d made quite clear that no one has contacted him. He has had nothing happen in relation to that “self-isolation”.

I suggest that, actually, if we don’t see harm in New Zealand, it will be much more by good luck than by good management and good practice by the Government. I regret to say I don’t believe the Minister of Health is leading on this issue in any way, shape, or form. He waited for the first Cabinet to make preliminary decisions on this matter when a week earlier than that, decisions should have been made on this incredibly significant issue. I believe we must be more proactive, more precautionary, in the way we handle this issue of coronavirus. The Minister said that the Government, the Ministry of Health, has been measured. I regret to say I think what he really means is “laid-back”. Kiwis are laid-back, but on an issue like this, that is not good enough.

I want to record the Chinese community’s very clear outpouring of views and concerns in relation to this throughout New Zealand. They’ve been strong, they have been forthright, and, as I say, they have been concerned—deeply concerned—about the lack of measures, the lateness of the measures, in relation to these matters. I record as well my view, and, I’m sure, a view that the House agrees with, that there is absolutely no room for racism in this country on this issue in relation to our Chinese community, who are valued members of our society.

I also want to make this final point that is wider than health when it comes to coronavirus: it is quite clear on the reports that are out in international media about a very significant shutdown throughout China of manufacturing and industry. There is undoubtedly an economic effect that will hit and is hitting this country. Even today, were this issue to resolve itself, it will not be insignificant. I look forward to hearing very clearly from the Government what their economic strategy in relation to this issue—that is a health issue but is also much wider and affects our economy—is and will be.

Just to respond to a few of the member Simon Bridges’ points, first of all, I would stress that all decisions that have been taken in response to the coronavirus have been taken with the public health of New Zealanders and the public safety of New Zealanders as our primary concern. All decisions taken have been informed by the science. The advice that we have received from doctors and clinical experts has informed every step that we have taken, and you will see that we have moved very quickly after Australia to close our borders upon reviewing the evidence and receiving the advice from the experts. To date, I stress in this House—and members will know this—that we have not had a single case of the coronavirus in New Zealand and we have indeed only had one case that could even have been suspected to have met the test of the virus, and that proved to be negative.

We make no apology, though, for taking a precautionary approach and making sure that, for example, we had full Cabinet consideration of the categorising of the disease. We have the health pathways in place. The doctors were ready to refer. The powers that we now have in place can be invoked at any time, but historically, in situations like this, they have not been required, because New Zealanders understand the importance of taking care of their friends and family and those that are around them.

In closing, I would say that we will continue to review the situation. The member at one point says we should move faster and more stringently; at the other, he acknowledges that there are economic effects of this virus around the world. We are reviewing the situation because we do not want this situation to be in place any longer than is necessary for the public health and safety of New Zealanders. We are a trading nation, and we are concerned to ensure that we are doing the right thing for the health of our people, and we will also look to the economy.