Ministerial Statements — COVID-19 Outbreak—New Zealand’s Second Confirmed Case

I wish to make a ministerial statement about COVID-19. Earlier today the Director-General of Health announced that New Zealand now has its second case of COVID-19. The appropriate steps have been taken to limit the potential risk of further cases. We’ve taken strong action at the border, including travel restrictions and a heightened presence of health staff. We have active public health measures, including supporting people in self-isolation through the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline. We have a comprehensive pandemic plan which has guided our response since January. Our public health staff are highly skilled and know how to respond to infectious diseases. This is one of their core duties.

The second case of COVID-19 will not be the last we see in New Zealand—we are likely to see further sporadic cases. I do not intend to deliver a ministerial statement each time we have a confirmed case. However, given the ongoing public interest, I feel it is important to clearly set out the facts around this case. The individual with COVID-19 is a New Zealand citizen in her 30s. She lives in Auckland and arrived back in New Zealand from Italy on 26 February. On Monday, the Government acted to ensure all people who have been in Italy in the previous 14 days place themselves in self-isolation. But, of course, New Zealand citizens are always entitled to travel home. Like most people internationally with COVID-19, I’m advised the individual is not particularly unwell. She is exhibiting mild-to-moderate symptoms and does not require hospital treatment. She is currently in self-isolation. This is important to emphasise. The vast majority of cases of COVID-19 are manageable by isolation and bed rest and do not require hospital treatment. Obviously, health staff are staying in close contact to monitor her progress and support her recovery.

Members will be aware that the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Zealand had very limited contact with anyone outside the flight they arrived on and their family, who had gone into self-isolation. In this new case, prior to any diagnosis, the individual has been more active in the community. We know she flew into New Zealand from Singapore on NZ0283, departing on 25 February. Contact tracing is already under way. We know she flew return to Palmerston North from Auckland on Monday, 2 March on NZ5013 and NZ8114. Work is already under way to trace those contacts, people on board seated nearby, and indeed all passengers on board as a precaution. We also know her children, who did not travel to Italy, have attended school at Westlake Boys’ High and Westlake Girls’ High. The principals at both schools are fully aware of the situation and parents are being supplied information.

I want to stress that the two students have not displayed any symptoms of the disease and that the best international evidence is that COVID-19 is not transmitted while people are asymptomatic. Young people are also far less vulnerable to COVID-19. Just 2.4 percent of cases in China have occurred in people under the age of 19, so I am advised that there is almost no risk to students, staff, or others at the school.

None the less, I know there will be some concern within those school communities. I want to assure the House that public health staff are available and are providing support and reassurance to the schools in question. I understand the Ministry of Education is also putting in place support to help those schools respond.

This is how a well-prepared health service, and, indeed, a well-prepared education system and wider Government, respond to an emerging infectious disease. This is exactly why we have a longstanding and comprehensive New Zealand pandemic plan, which we have been working from since January. We remain committed to keeping COVID-19 out of New Zealand wherever possible and stamping it out when and where it does sporadically occur.

I want to take the opportunity to remind the public that they can take simple steps to limit the spread of this and other viruses. Washing their hands with soap and sneezing into their elbows are two of the most effective health precautions that people can take. While simple, these behaviours can make a huge difference to controlling viral transmission.

I thank the Minister of Health for his further update on the COVID-19 outbreak, and, in respect of the announcement by the Director-General of Health (DG) this morning, he again reiterated his view that with continued vigilance the chance for widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low.

However, as the Minister has said, this is a slightly different case to that which was announced yesterday in that the affected patient has been at large in the community for six days prior to becoming tested and seven days prior to being confirmed with COVID-19. That does significantly broaden the contact tracing challenge. I encourage and wish the public health officials all the best in their evidence and trust that the rigid definition of contact, perhaps, is reviewed and reflected on as, in fact, the DG said this morning it would be, because it is possible that with large gatherings like airports at rush hour and like schools, even periodic brief contact could indeed spread the virus.

I am interested in the Minister’s comments that he said the Government has acted to ensure all people—all people—who have been in Italy in the previous 14 days place themselves in self-isolation. I think the House would benefit from an explanation about how he has such a degree of confidence that that is being rigidly applied.

Secondly, he also followed up by saying, “But, of course, New Zealand citizens are always entitled to travel home.”, which implies that non - New Zealand citizens and residents who have been in northern Italy are not presently able to travel to New Zealand. That wasn’t my understanding; I wonder if the Minister could provide some clarification based on his comments about whether or not a travel ban has been imposed on people who have been into that affected area and any other.

Firstly, in respect of the travel restrictions that are in place, indeed people may travel to New Zealand, but we are requiring people who are coming from those hot spot areas to self-isolate. That may make a travel experience in New Zealand particularly un-enjoyable for people who do not have a home to go to; they will be required to self-isolate for the period that they are in New Zealand if they are from a hot spot area. So we anticipate that it is highly likely that the main people who will want to travel to New Zealand from those areas will be New Zealand citizens travelling home.

The requirement to self-isolate is one that, in my experience to date, New Zealanders take incredibly seriously. Of course, because we have made COVID-19 a notifiable disease, the medical officer of health has powers to compel people to be in isolation if that’s required. Historically, this power has not been used for notifiable diseases in New Zealand, because people do take seriously their responsibilities in this respect.

Like the member Michael Woodhouse, I do want to thank and acknowledge the medical staff who are out there making sure that people have good information about what’s required and who are doing the follow-ups and the contact tracing.

I also want to put on record my thanks to those New Zealanders—the thousands of New Zealanders—who have already self-isolated. Taking that responsibility seriously is incredibly important for them and for their families and for wider New Zealand.