>> JACINDA ARDERN: Tena koutou katoa.
Good afternoon, everyone.
On Monday, Cabinet will meet to decide the
next steps in our resurgence plan and the
alert levels for Auckland and the rest of
New Zealand.
Ahead of that, today Cabinet reviewed our
current COVID-19 settings within our resurgence
plan.
And I'll share that review with you shortly.
First, I will hand over to Dr Bloomfield to
provide the latest numbers.
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Thank you, Prime Minister.
Tena koutou katoa.
Today, there are a total of 11 new confirmed
cases of COVID-19 to report.
Nine are related to the community outbreak
in Auckland, and there are two new imported
cases.
Of the nine community cases, five are linked
to different churches in South Auckland and
four are household contacts.
So this morning there are a total of 223 possible
contacts from the churches who have been identified
as linked to the cluster.
Of those 223, 170 have been tested and the
results are pending.
And further tracing and testing continues
and the figures will be updated as we receive
more information.
So, both the ministry and the public health
services in Auckland would very much like
to thank the Pasifika churches involved for
their cooperation and their assistance in
keeping their congregation safe with the provision
of advice and facilitating tracing, test,
and isolation of close contacts.
It's been a partnership arrangement and that's
why we have been so successful in identifying
and tracing so many of these people.
There are eight people receiving hospital-level
care for COVID-19 and all of these are part
of the Auckland community cluster.
There are two people in Auckland City Hospital,
one person in North Shore and five in Middlemore
Hospital.
Seven are stable on a ward and there is one
more in Middlemore who remains in ICU.
I won't be saying anything more about that
case at this time.
An additional person in Waikato Hospital was
hospitalised, but not as a direct result of
COVID-19.
All of the cases who are in hospital are isolated
and carefully managed separately from other
patients.
The public can be confident that our DHBs
are managing this effectively.
We have experience in doing this and they
have very good protocols in place as they
did during the first outbreak of COVID-19.
We have heard reports of people who are reluctant
to go and seek necessary hospital care and
I can reassure them that our hospitals are
safe places to receive medical care and you
should feel confident about doing so.
So, that date 143 people linked to the community
cluster have been moved into the Auckland
isolation quarantine fall they, and that includes
70 people with positive tests.
So, the 11 new confirmed cases today - the
nine in the community and two imported cases
- brings our total number of positive and
confirmed cases to 1,315.
Total number of active cases is 105 and 16
of the active cases are in managed isolation
or from managed isolation facilities.
The two new imported cases include a female
in her 30s, travelling from London, via Hong
Kong, who arrived in New Zealand on 15 August
and became unwell on 19 August.
The second is a male in his 50s who returned
from Bozra via Dubai and Sydney between 16
and 17 August.
Both of those, of course, now they are confirmed
cases are transferred to the quarantine facility
in Auckland.
Of the 89 cases in the community, 88 are now
linked to the cluster, and one remains under
investigation.
The possibility that the Rydges maintenance
worker, who's not connected to the larger
cluster, contracted the virus after being
in the lift shortly after a hotel guest remains
one important line of investigation.
No further information to report on that today.
The community case that is under investigation,
who works in St Luke's Mall has been linked
to the current community outbreak using genome
sequencing that ESR undertook yesterday.
However, there is no - as yet - known or confirmed
epidemiological link with the outbreak.
Investigations continue into the source of
exposure.
One specific line of inquiry is that this
case and another case may have been on the
same bus.
I'd like to make the - take the opportunity
to remind everybody of the value of - and
the importance of - using masks when in places,
particularly like public transport where it
is difficult do maintain physical distancing.
We will update you as that investigation proceeds.
The national contact tracing service has 1,999
close contacts identified.
1,924 have been contacted and are self-isolating.
The remainder are in the process of being
contacted.
In terms of testing, yesterday there were
15,714 tests undertaken, bringing our total
to 673,220.
We've all but completed our surge testing
of the border workforce and managed isolation
workforce and planning is underway for a second
wave of testing with a focus on Auckland.
That will start next week.
Following that, there will be a programme
of regular testing of border workers.
Finally, on exemption, we have received more
than 9,000 applications for exemptions.
Over 4,000 were processed yesterday.
So, decisions are being made quickly.
And more than 1,200 have been approved.
10% of applications are actually from people
who do not need to reply.
So, before people put in an exemption request,
please do check the COVID-19 website for the
list of industries that have class exemptions
already.
Thank you.
Prime Minister.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Thank you.
Before I begin today, I want to say a word
of thanks.
We are where we are because of the efforts
of every one, but especially Auckland and
especially those who have been tested.
We would not have got in front of this cluster
without them.
Vilifying those who have caught the virus
or those who helped keep us safe by getting
tested is something that I simply will not
tolerate.
It is those who shame others, those who seek
to blame, they are the dangerous ones.
They are the ones who cause people to hesitate
before getting a test.
They are the ones that make people feel afraid.
There is no room for division when it comes
to fighting COVID.
By sticking together, supporting each other,
and acting responsibly we will continue to
defeat it when it reemerges.
As you can see from the numbers and the details
of the cases shared by Dr Bloomfield, we continue
to identify the perimeter or the outer edges
of the current cluster.
We have made good progress.
Unlike our first lockdown, we are not dealing
with multiple outbreaks.
We are not trying to contact trace more than
one cluster.
We can pinpoint with much more precision who
has infected whom, and that helps us to isolate
those we need to.
The alert level 3 restrictions have played
a critical role in helping us to do that.
The vast majority of cases since this outbreak
began were cases we had contact traced, were
already in isolation, and were then tested.
That's good news for two reasons.
It tells us that we are stopping other people
from being infected by identified positive
cases early, and it also tells us we are getting
in front of the virus.
There are, however, a small handful of cases
where that hasn't been the case.
And where symptoms rather than contact tracers
have caused someone to get a test.
That's not unusual, but it's also not ideal.
But, again, this is where our Level 3 restrictions
have been so key.
I want to just reflect on the difference they
have made for a moment.
Everyone in Auckland knows what those restrictions
have meant - no face-to-face retail shopping,
no gatherings, no school.
They are sacrifices.
I want you to foe that they've not been in
vein.
Over the last 10 days, we have identified
cases that affected a major store ATSIL via
Park -- at Sylvia Park, a shop at St Luke's
Mall, six schools and four churches.
Imagine how much bigger that cluster and outbreak
would be if all of those places hadn't closed
and that contact had continued.
If school students had continued to mingle,
if shop workers continued to serve people.
It could have been enormous.
So, for that, I want to say thank you, Auckland.
You have made a huge difference to our containment
efforts.
The combination of widespread testing, effective
contact tracing and adherence to Level 3 restrictions,
such as staying home in your bubble, have
stopped any wider spread of the virus.
The response has been fast and effective.
But it has not concluded yet.
So, Auckland has been at Level 3 for 10 days
now.
We did say we would check in on those settings
today.
As a Cabinet we have done that by looking
at the latest information.
There is nothing to suggest we need to change
our course.
Certainly, nothing that suggests we need to
escalate our response.
But at this stage, we need to stay the course.
And retain the settings we have for now.
That means we will consider Auckland's alert-level
3 settings and the rest of the country's status
at alert-level 2 again on Monday.
We have made a good start, but it is critically
important that over the weekend and early
next week we stick to the Level 3 rules.
No-one wants to go backwards and stay in Level
3 longer than necessary.
In the meantime, I do want to acknowledge
what has been achieved through the work of
many over the last 10 days.
There are encouraging signs we have the Auckland
cluster circled.
There are now 87 cases within that cluster,
all of whom are isolated.
We have completed 170,515 tests since our
current alert level settings began last Wednesday.
To put this into perspective, globally, the
World Health Organization this week said we
have one of the highest rankings in the world
for our rate of testing per positive case.
This means we can have a high level of confidence
around the reach of the cluster into the community,
and that we are containing it.
Contact tracing of the cluster has been at
or over 80% within two days.
That's the standard Dr Verell said was necessary
in her report during the last outbreak.
Even though we sit alongside many countries
that have experienced resurgence, we have,
as a team, done good work to limit the impact
of that as much as possible.
New Zealand is among a small number of countries
that still has a low rate of COVID cases,
and one of the lowest COVID death rates in
the world.
To give you one example, the United States
has 16,563 cases per million people.
We have 269 cases per million people.
And the reason we have been able to do that
is in large part because you have all played
a role.
Our first experience of having one part of
New Zealand at a different alert level than
the rest, the police quickly put a secure
ring in place around Auckland 24/7.
The vast majority of New Zealanders are complying
with new restrictions.
We have had just two arrests so far.
13 checkpoints have stopped 106,000 vehicles
and around 95% have been let through for legitimate
purposes.
Data tracking shows Aucklanders' movements
are down even more so than last time we were
at alert Level 3.
There's been a massive mobilisation of police,
Defence, Health, MBIE and education sectors.
And we have put in place immediate financial
are you supports -- supports to cushion the
blow, with the wage subsidy extension, because
we saw with the first outbreak, getting on
top of the virus early means we can open up
the economy early.
While the re-emergence of COVID in our community
is something no-one wanted, it is something
we planned for.
Even in a scenario that is at the harder end
of the scale, with a very complex cluster
as this outbreak has been, it's a plan that
is working as we intended.
One of the questions I have been asked recently
is whether our resurgence plan in the future
will always feature Level 3 lockdowns.
The answer to that is no.
Not necessarily.
The big cluster we have been dealing with
has some features that made it particularly
difficult.
It started in our most densely populated city,
and also hit our community in South Auckland
where we have high levels of social interaction.
The first case in the cluster has not yet
been linked to any obvious source and it became
clear quickly when we traced backwards that
there were people who had been infected earlier.
But within this outbreak, we've also seen
an example of where - if it happened on its
own - we wouldn't have needed extended restrictions.
That is the Rydges case.
Here we saw a worker from a managed isolation
facility who tested positive through the testing
of all staff.
We quickly identified their close contacts.
They were tested and isolated.
At the same time, we sent the workers' results
to ESR for genome sequencing.
It told us their infection was in the same
sequence as the returning New Zealander in
the facility they worked.
We could then use CCTV footage and swipe card
data to identify that the worker and returning
New Zealander had been in a lift within a
very similar time frame of one another.
This is an example of two things.
First, just how tricky this virus is.
But, also, how the system should work.
We can't stop every case.
But we can stop cases spreading.
If this rinks case happened on -- Rydges case
happened on its own, we would not have needed
to increase red carpets.
In situations like this we can manage COVID
with the protocols we have.
That needs to be our goal for the future.
Also importance for the future is learning
as much as we can about how the current cluster
started.
I want to share with everyone what we know
about it and our lines of investigation into
its source.
There continue to be several potential theories,
all of which we have chased hard and continue
to do so.
We all want to learn what happened here.
We know that the sequence of COVID we are
dealing with is from the B111 family.
We know that our sequence is highly unlikely
to be linked to our first wave for two reasons.
The B111 family was rare in New Zealand during
the wave 1 and the sequencing tells us it
hadn't mutated much from those recorded overseas,
which means it's pretty likely to be a short
transmission chain, away from the sequence
of overseas origin.
The most obvious place to look had been the
places where returning New Zealanders arrive
and spend time.
Virtually all of our border and managed isolation
staff have been tested in the past 10 days
with rare exceptions.
So far, there are no additional cases outside
of the Rydges maintenance worker.
We have rolled out and outbreak in all of
our MIQ facilities today.
We have used all the genome sequences we have
been able to collect data on for our positive
cases in quarantine, but that date this has
not found a match to the sequence which caused
the outbreak.
We've asked those who have our earliest known
infections in this cluster, whether they have
any links to overseas travel, airline crew,
or border workers, to try and establish links
through contact tracing.
But this hadn't turned up anything.
At Americold, the workplace where we have
traced the outbreak to, we have analysed and
continue to trace a list of contractor whose
visited the work site.
We have tested at the port where containers
for Americold are received.
We have even undertaken environmental testing
at the Americold site and checked our sequence
against the one from an Americold outbreak
in Melbourne, but none of this to date has
provided any answers.
There are other possibilities, albeit less
likely.
We will keep hunting, but just as was the
case.
>> Our first wave of infections, we may not
find all the answers for the cluster.
We have, however, learned valuable things
that have led to the improvements in our response
and so long as we have the cluster contained,
we can still lift our restrictions eventually.
So, looking to Monday, we will p use the standard
eight factors we have if place to make alert
level decisions.
The four key measures are - trends in the
transmission of the virus, including the Director-General's
confidence in the data, the capacity and capability
our testing and contact tracing system, the
effectiveness of our civil isolation, quarantine
and border measures, and the capacity in the
health system more generally to move levels.
Those are the criteria that we have used every
time we have made restriction adjustments,000
our alert levels.
The four broader measures we look at - they
include the affects on local economy, at-risk
population, how people follow the rules and
the ability to operationalise a new alert
level.
So, today I know it's been long, but I hope
that gives you a clear overview of how we
are all doing.
So much rests on activities in our biggest
city this weekend.
Auckland remains at Level 3, and the rest
of the country at Level 2.
Auckland, stay home in your bubble.
Cover your face when you leave your home.
Stay the course.
Short and sharp.
Hard and early.
We have done it before.
And we can do it again.
Yeah.
>> REPORTER: What would need to happen to
the case numbers over the weekend for you
to be comfortable making the decision on Monday
to switch on Wednesday if they stay the same?
Is it inevitable that Auckland will have to
stay longer?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We make the decision based
on advice we receive from Dr Bloomfield.
So, I will let him answer.
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Thank you.
We will be looking at the case numbers, and
as we did last time, as we were providing
advice to come down alert levels, it's the
pattern of those cases.
And in particular whether any new cases are
ones we might expect, so they are household
or workplace contacts or church or school
contacts.
So, that's the key factor.
There are a number of other inputs we're getting.
For example, the modelling that Sean Hendy
and his team are doing, I read those reports
whenever they come out as - to triangulate
what we're seeing through the outbreak on
the ground.
That is an important part of informing our
thinking, as what the modelling is showing
might app under different scenarios.
>> REPORTER: Even if we get multiple cases,
you wouldn't rule out feeling comfortable
recommending Auckland drops down a level on
Wednesday because of those cases?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Correct.
It's not just the number.
It's the pattern and the ability to predict
that those - to know that those cases are
part of the community outbreak, as we could,
for example, today with the nine - they were
cases in a way that were people who had been
identified through contact tracing, were in
isolation and had been tested as part of that.
>> REPORTER: Prime Minister, can you skip
alert levels going to 3 to 1?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I don't want to rule anything
in or out at this stage.
We almost always consider a range of options
particularly given we're dealing with the
country being at two different alert levels.
We will consider the potential of different
configurations.
But that's something that obviously we always
use the latest advice and information.
We will look at what happens over the next
couple of days to make those decisions.
>> REPORTER: For the third day running now,
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) nonsense about New Zealand.
Does he need to zip it when it comes to New
Zealand's COVID cases?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I think everyone can see
that in New Zealand - you know, today we are
talking 11 cases, whereas the United States
has been dealing with over 40,000 cases.
But I'd also add it's not just whether you
have cases, it is how you choose to deal with
them as a nation.
And I personally am incredibly proud of the
approach that all New Zealanders have taken
to the battle against COVID-19.
>> REPORTER: When you heard those - have you
heard the latest comments?
What did you think...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I haven't heard them.
I have seen them written.
They haven't changed my perspective I shared
recently, which is we are one of many countries
around the world that are dealing with resurgence.
But, albeit, relatively speaking on a very,
very small scale.
Our approach to COVID has been different the
other countries, but it's an approach we can
feel proud of.
>> REPORTER: Is there any scenario whereby
parts of Auckland where cases are popping
up, particularly depending what happens over
the weekend, where they may stay at level
3, while wider Auckland region can come down
a level?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: With wider Auckland?
I think one of the things we have seen, both
from overseas - particularly in Australia
- is if you limit to two small a degree, you
run the risk you have wider outbreak around
those perimeters.
And I think it has been quite informative
for us that we moved Auckland as quite a fulsome
region.
You know, we took into account the boundaries
that did bring in the entire - the entire
area.
And I think we were right to do that.
We have seen cases that have affected the
North Shore, we have seen cases have affected
central Auckland, we have cases in the south.
I think that was the right decision.
>> REPORTER: Dr Bloomfield...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I think that is proven
its worth.
It isn't to say in the future that you might
have a smaller regional approach.
When it comes to Auckland, and those early
precautionary days where we just didn't know
enough, taking in the whole region was the
right decision.
>> REPORTER: What are the genome sequencing
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) is there any possibility
that person could be linked to the original
source of the (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) Americold
you don't know about?
Or is it definite they are linked to the Americold
cluster similarly.
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Which case?
>> REPORTER: St Luke.
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: What the ESR team will
be able to do will be able to map where it
fits in sort of the sequence of transmission,
so that will be very helpful.
They are in the process of doing that.
But if I think about the timing of onset of
symptoms of that person, which was I think
around 14 or 15th, exposure likely a few days
prior to that, that's quite some time after
the first date of onset of symptoms we have
in our first Americold case, which was 31
July.
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) (SPEAKS
INDISTINCTLY) line of inquiry.
Are you able to say where the bus was going
and where it was?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: I don't - that has just
been confirmed.
What the regional public low emission service
has got from the interviews of two cases is
they seem to have been on the same bus on
the same route by their description of the
journey.
And now we are working with Auckland transport
to look at the - public health unit is working
to the public transport to lock at the card
information to get timing.
That will help.
This is the degree of inquiry that happens
around cases to try and provide that epidemiological
link.
Just to reiterate the point I made - we may
or may not find a link there, but I do want
to emphasise the importance of the use of
masks in public transport, particularly in
that setting where you have known cases in
the community.
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) is it possible
that other people who were also on the bus
could have been exposed to COVID-19?
Do they need to do anything?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Quite.
On an airline flight, we can also - working
with Auckland Transport, use the HOP card
information of others on the bus and treatment
them - particularly those who may have sitting
in the same area, treat them as if they were
Close contacts.
The system of contact tracing, isolation and
testing would cut in.
The good thing is this bus journey, which
was on 12 - the morning of 12 August, was
the last - was just before Auckland then went
into a level 3 - alert level 3 posture.
So, that's the value of having that wider
restriction on movement, is that even if there
were people who may have been on that bus
and may have been exposed, and/or infected,
that they haven't been out and about in the
community near as much as they may have been
if we were in an Alert Level 1 or 2.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We are working to doubly
confirm that connection, as Dr Bloomfield
said.
This is a timely reminder - what we know to
date of the Rydges cases, but what we know
to date here, that mask use in Auckland but
also hand hygiene and how tricky it is to
manage transmission of COVID-19.
It just demonstrates while all those public
health messages
>> US so important.
>> REPORTER: The bus - we were stalking yesterday
about having contact tracing or QR codes on
buses.
Does there make you reconsider whether that
would be valuable?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yeah.
We've had that discussion as ministers.
For Auckland helpfully, the HOP card provides
that data.
And so that tells us who is on the bus at
the same time and, of course, the bus they
were on and the route they were on.
That's really helpful.
When you come other parts of country, that
information is not collected in the same way.
And the use of cards is not as high or as
frequent.
So we have been exploring whether or not we
can have COVID Tracer app use on different
routes on buses.
That is something well ear actively looking
-- we're actively looking at.
In the meantime, mask use in Auckland is encouraged,
just generally when you're out and about,
but absolutely on public transport.
For the rest of the country, at alert level
2, we ask you to use masks on public transport
as well.
>> REPORTER: Prime Minister, you mentioned
that today's decision - Monday's decision,
would include some look at how it affects
local economies.
What sort of economic analysis have you done?
Treasury say they haven't done any sort of
cost benefit analysis that uses quality adjusted
life years and those sorts of things.
Other people outside Government are saying
their analysis say the lockdowns are too hard
and are actually damaging the economy.
So, what - how will you make this decision
on Monday?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We factor in a fairly wide
range of information, as much as we're able.
So, the Minister of Finance spoke to some
of the economic activity we do or don't see
at alert level 3.
We know estimates from Treasury put it at
about 80%.
But having said that, we also know that for
those who aren't operating, it is particularly
difficult for hospitality and retail.
So, we look at the impact of the lockdown
on economic activity.
We have seen estimates that have been used
around the potential impact, just for Auckland.
They're not necessarily cost benefit analysis,
but just simply impact overall.
And we do - we do as much as we possibly - do
stay in touch with the likes of BusinessNZ
and operators to hear the impacts on different
sectors, including, for instance, construction
and others.
So, it's a wide range of factors where we
have data.
>> REPORTER: Why not use the quality adjusted
life years measures, a proper cost benefit
analysis as others have done outside?
And the likes of PHARMAC and others and the
health department use all the time?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yeah.
Also, what I think we do need to factor in
is that some of that analysis will take into
account a trade-off in a moment of time but
won't take into account the trade-offs over
the course of our fight against COVID-19.
Our strategy is very much about, yes, taking
that really short, sharp approach, go hard,
go early, and so we need to factor in the
lifetime impact of our approach on the economy
as we battle COVID overall.
You can see from the stringency index, New
Zealand - you know, spikes in alert levels
when we go hard and early, then quickly returns
to normality.
Even when you look at New Zealand's recent
escalation, we are still only up around where
many countries have been for a consistent
period of time.
Quite hard to factor all of that in.
>> REPORTER: Sound optimistic in your opening
comments.
You said the Auckland cluster has been circled.
I was wondering if you could give us insight
around the Cabinet table today and if they
shared your optimism and what the sort of
- the mood was?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We base that on the feedback
we get from those who are working on the ground.
And the data, which everyone hears.
You can see that we are getting cases that
are predominantly linked, and where we have
not linked them, we have leads to follow and
even if we're not able to establish that close
contact link, we are able to establish a genome
link, which gives us that extra them of certainty
-- level of certainty.
That's currently what that data is telling
us.
If I were to reflect just Cabinet generally,
our view is that we need - we need to have
full information when we make the decision.
No-one is second guessing what we might do
on Monday until we have everything in front
of us over the next couple of days.
>> REPORTER: Sense of optimism?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: There is certainly the
view that the resurgence plan has worked,
even though it's been tested in a scenario
that is at the more difficult end of the scale.
I think that should be cause for all New Zealanders
to feel optimistic, that when we have had
a case come, experienced in New Zealand, a
tough one, that actually the rollout of contact
tracing, testing surveillance, isolation - all
of that - has made a huge difference and has
worked as we intended it to.
>> REPORTER: On the bus trip, can you tell
us where the bus was going?
Where they got on and off?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: No.
I don't have that information.
We were waiting for confirmation from Auckland
regional public health.
They may well have that in our statement that
will go out shortly.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We talked about this before
we came down.
While we're waiting for approximate confirmation
of those two cases being linked together for
that bus trip, we wanted to wait until we
had that and then put all that information
out, because then that will help us confirm
the route travelled, the period on which both
were there and so on.
We're just - just need to determine that.
That will be full information out for everyone.
>> REPORTER: Dr Bloomfield, there's been some
concerns raised about a lack of mask fit testing
to make sure that the N95 masks fit the front-line
health workers that are using them what, have
you heard about a lack of testing?
Is that acceptable?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: This is an issue that
came up during the first wave of the pandemic
here, and most of the our n95 buck masks are
duck -- masks are duck listen billed ones,
manufactured here locally.
They tend to be a good fit - well, not such
a good fit for people with smaller faces.
And so one of the issues that's come up here
- and internationally - is it's one thing
to have the n95, but also individuals need
to be fitted.
That's one of the bits of work that's been
ongoing over the last 100 days along with
a lot of other work, I might add, to look
at fit for individual clinicians in hospital
settings.
It was one of the learnings about our preparation
in terms of - both stockpile of PPE, but in
the case of the n95 masks, to actually do
fitting with individual health professionals,
and we have been working with the manufacturer
here to manufacture a smaller size mask and
in the meantime are looking to get more of
those smaller masks onshore from other places
globally.
Report.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: That is the great thing
about having the manufacturer here in New
Zealand.
As everyone will know, I visited a mask factory
not so long ago.
They talked about the fact they were working
with Health to prototype and start running
off masks that will fit different circumstances.
So, the fact we can do that quickly onshore
is a real advantage to us.
>> REPORTER: Like to change...
Change lanes.
The sentencing of the March 15 terrorist is
taking place next week.
It is likely to be confronting for many, especially
those in the Muslim communities and victims.
What would be your message to those communities?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I don't think there is
much that I can say that is going to ease
just how traumatic that period's going to
be.
But we are doing everything we can to make
sure that those families and victims have
all the support that they need.
Particularly hard for victims who have family
members offshore, because with COVID it's
a double whammy of not being able to necessarily
be well supported.
We have done what we can to try and bridge
that gap for as many people as we can.
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) of the
sentencing?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: It is not something that
Ive made any decision on.
This is likely to take - of course, the whole
process is likely to take some time.
That's as it should be.
People need to be able to be heard and that
is one of the consequences of not having the
full case, but rather a sentencing, is that
it will be a more limited process for people.
But you can imagine I will be keeping a very
close eye on what happens in that court.
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) Dr Bloomfield,
whether any of the people who were granted
exemptions to travel for the sentencing, whether
if I of those failed their COVID tests?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Ah.
I don't know.
But they have been granted - there are a number
of people in Auckland who have been granted
exemptions, yes, to...
>> Not from MIQ.
>> Not from MIQ.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We should be clear.
Not from managed isolation.
>> People who came in from overseas and been
in the 14-day quarantine period, isolation
period, would have been tested, day 3 and
day 12.
I don't know if - any failed.
I can find that out - sorry, not failed the
test.
If any had positive tests during that visit.
That's - I don't think so.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: My understanding is that
everyone is spending the full 14 days in quarantine
and that will have the consequence of some
not necessarily being able to attend in person.
>> REPORTER: In terms of those HOP cards,
not all of them are always registered.
So, is there any advice going out to Aucklanders
to - if they have the HOP card to register
themselves in order to heap (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY).
>> JACINDA ARDERN: That would need to be something
that once we - witness we're able to ascertain
that that definitely is our strongest lead,
and that there is that connection between
those individuals on that route and on that
bus, we will then have the chance to look
with Auckland Council to look at the data
we have.
If we need to make that - give that advice
to individuals because we identify that gap
in data, I imagine that's something we will
include in our public health advice, which
we should - all things being equal - have
out this afternoon.
>> REPORTER: The provision of suicide statistics
came out today.
They showed a drop year on year.
Do you hope that puts to pedestrian some rumours
-- bed some rumours and speculation we sure
about suicide during the COVID-19 particularly
on social media?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yeah.
And that has been - you know, a significant
shift in numbers, that we have seen from that
report that's come from the Ministry.
Yes, I do hope that that finely does put -- finally
does put to bed some rumours.
I want to add - that isn't going to change
our focus on mental health issues, particularly
as they relate to the anxiety that people
feel around COVID-19.
But it shows we can make a difference when
it comes to suicide in New Zealand.
And that community organisations and the many,
many people who are working on those issues
are making a difference.
>> REPORTER: The minister met - spoke to members
there yesterday, are you looking at putting
in a crowd monitor?
That is something that's been called for.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I want to let the minister
continue to work through those issues, but
it is fair to say we are working hard to play
a constructive role in the dispute and the
tension that obviously exists within the DHB.
We do have a role to play there.
The minister has been very, very active in
trying to help resolve some of those issues.
>> REPORTER: On that, do you think it's a
crisis?
There's so much...
Medical talent that has now left.
It's been a mass exodus of people.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: There are clearly issues
that need to be addressed and very quickly.
We see our role here as intervening to try
and make sure we can find a resolution ultimately.
No-one wants to see any impact for the community
around this DHB affected by the dispute and
the tension that exists there.
So, I know that will be the focus of many
involved, and that will be the motivation
of many involved.
So, let's use that as our common ground and
find a way through.
>> REPORTER: The press of the very fine Stuff
newspaper understands that the minister did
not actually speak with the DHB board yesterday?
Have you laid out your...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I don't believe that that
is the case.
I will let Minister Hipkins speak to his timeline,
but that is not as I understand it.
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) twice about...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I will finish this question.
Happy to come to you.
>> REPORTER: They have written to you twice.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I have signed out a letter
to respond to the clinicians that wrote to
me.
I would have to get the date on that.
It was at least - at least a little while
ago.
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) you said
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) the government was at
war with this DHB and the Government needs
to step in.
Three years later.
What's happened?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Obviously a lot has happened
in that period.
And, again, there are issues that are being
raised that we are actively again stepping
in to try and play a role, to resolve the
issues.
We see there a role for us to play.
We are playing it.
I will let Minister Hipkins, though, speak
to any - time lengths of conversations with
the board, and I'm not going to pre-empt any
outcome.
We do know, though, that we need to move quickly.
It has escalated.
We, as a Government, don't want to wait for
any period to try and help resolve these issues.
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY).
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Help resolve the tension
that exists clearly and the board.
>> REPORTER: Travel in and out of Auckland
would need to remain restroked even if the
levels...
Jaz," You ask a --
>> JACINDA ARDERN: You ask a good question.
If we had a scenario where one part of the
country was at a different alert level, they
have usually included interregional travel.
Then you have the limits on mass gatherings
in one part of the country and not in the
rest.
Those are technicalities and things we need
to take into account with our decision.
We will work through that as a Cabinet on
Monday.
>> REPORTER: How much...
>> REPORTER: I have been told that the commercial
arrangement under which labs invoice the ministry
for COVID tests expires in September and is
being renegotiated to give the ministry Mr
Power to audit -- more power to audit labs.
Can you give more detail on those negotiations?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: No, I don't have any
more detail.
What I would say is the nature of the negotiations
with the labs are good.
I mean, there's - it's not an adversarial
discussion.
Clearly the original contract was put in place
when the epidemic or the pandemic was starting.
And put in place for a good am of time.
We are now into a different pattern.
We are renegotiating that contract with the
labs to ensure that first of all we are getting
good value for public money.
But also that there is an ability to get the
sort of reporting we need and also - indeed
that, we can go and just check on delivery
on the contracts so that would be a standard
thing.
>> REPORTER: Would it be...
>> REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY).
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: The reporting that we're
most interested in is the reporting of results
and the ability to ensure that the way those
results are reported can be linked directly
into our contact tracing databases and so
on.
Then there will be reporting from each lab
on the volumes to ensure that payment is appropriate
for the volumes that they are delivering.
>> REPORTER: Customer are having to wait 7-14
days to get reusable masks from retails because
there is so much demand.
Is it still worth buying them.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I will talk to supply issues.
Last time I checked in with the all of Government
group I was advised we did still have supply
within our major retailers.
If people are finding it hard online, there
are options for those retailers that you are
able to visit, so supermarkets, for instance.
We have also had thousands of masks distributed
directly through some of our social agencies
into Auckland, particularly utilising whanau
agencies to get the masks out to those, particularly
in our vulnerable communities.
To masks who are purchase, I will have Dr
Bloomfield speak.
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: There are other options.
I have one here in my pocket.
This is a homemade mask.
There are various patterns for on the Internet
or elsewhere.
I didn't make this myself.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: You didn't?
Ash --
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Who did make it?
A mother of one of my son's friends.
I have been one sent by a member of the public
with the TARDIS on it!
That was nice.
These can be washed, reused and face covering
can be a scarf or bandana.
The important thing is how you use it.
Being careful with hand hygiene.
>> REPORTER: Do you have any personalised
reusable masks?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I have a couple of options.
You will have seen yesterday I was using the
same range of masks that were being used by
most of the staff there.
I do have a couple of cotton ones that I understand
have been made by one of the staff members
who works here in the buildings.
A lot of people who are handy on sewing machines
have been very, very generous in helping make
sure there is supply around the building.
>> REPORTER: Reusable ones...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I have a range of patterns.
I didn't bring mine down as Dr Bloomfield
did.
So unfortunately I can't show you.
>> REPORTER: Can you demonstrate?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: This is dangerous to
do.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I think that is why you
have been asked
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: That's exactly right!
The important thing here is to hold the elastic
at the ends and keep the hands away from the
moat and face.
It goes here, over the years.
In my case, not too difficult.
The one problem I do have is my glasses fog
up.
You will notice...
I will take that off.
Apparently you can use sellotape across the
top, to help prevent that.
>> REPORTER: Hambleton High School held a
rugby match, with 1,000 people were allowed
to attend.
This is technically allowed because schools
were considered bubbled.
Michael Baker questioned that.
Is that a hoop hold?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: -- loophole?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Under alert level 2,
there wouldn't be a thousand people allowed
to attend.
The maximum allowed is 100.
I know from my own experience here that for
most college sport there are no spectators
allowed.
It is just the teams and those who are closely
involved...
>> REPORTER: Can I ask a question about the
border restrictions?
It would be easier if the whole of the North
Island was at the same level.
How much weight will you give that when you
make the decision on Monday?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Yes, we do consider the
ability to implement the - successfully - the
restrictions and force.
Around the restrictions.
We do take that into consideration.
It won't be as weighty as just making sure
that we get the restriction level itself right.
But those are things that we are working our
way through, because they do present at the
border some logistical challenges, if you
still have a border.
>> REPORTER: Is there any chance you would
make a decision on Monday to of down alert
levels at midnight Monday?
Or definitely...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: No.
You will recall that we make those decisions,
48 hours in advance, it gives us extra time
to put in place orders that may be necessary.
That's why we do it ahead of what is technically
that two-week time frame.
>> REPORTER: If we do move to Level 1, will
there be changes?
Dr Bloomfield talked about maybe having more
social distance.
What does that mean for nightclubs.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We try to keep our restrictions
and alert level - broadly speaking - in place.
We have made additions.
The use of masks is a classic example.
The evidence has continued to grow around
the importance of mask use and so that's why
we have implemented them, incorporated them
into our alert Level framework in the way
we have.
>> REPORTER: Your vision for getting back
to normal?
What is it?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: We have used that framework
as consistently as we can, because it helps
people understand very quickly when you reference
the alert levels what is required.
Keep in mind, though, in the past we have
- we have stepped into alert levels.
We have had alterations like that from time-to-time.
That, I think, is reasonably easy to communicate.
>> REPORTER: Just on...
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Em.
>> REPORTER: Dr Bloomfield, there was discussion
about some people who are confirmed cases
of COVID-19 weren't in quarantine and were
in other arrangements.
What's the proportion of those cases that
are in other arrangements?
Are any of them private homes?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: If you look at today's
numbers, I think we're about 70 - if you add
up those who are in quarantine and those who
are in hospital, there's about 150 who are
in other settings, and, yes, at least one
is a private home.
It includes supports around the family for
a good reason.
And 24/7 security.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: If have is a chance to
dispel a few myths.
I have heard claims people are - you play
be forcibly separated from family members
or that children may be removed from families.
That is simply not how these arrangements
work.
We try and as best as possible keep people
in an arrangement that works for their family,
whilst also trying to keep their family members
safe from transmission.
So, we really work through that with public
health clinicians on the ground.
I wanted to dispel any suggestion that anything
forceable is happening in these situations.
>> REPORTER: You said you have got interpret
well through the surge - surge testing of
the border workers.
There will be more testing next week.
How regularly ongoing will the testing of
the border workforce (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: We have worked up a
plan around that with the whole range of Government
agencies so that we include not just the availability
of testing, but the assurance to the workforce
that they - they will be able to receive and
required to be tested regularly.
There will be some categorisation depending
on the level of risk for different workforces.
For some members of the workforce, it may
be weekly.
Other, it may be just fortnightly or monthly.
So, we're busy - very busy with our colleagues
across government, just finalising that plan.
Jaz," Making sure --
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Making sure those at the
front-line, having the most at-risk interactions
that we prioritise their regular testing.
Minister Hipkins is likely to speak in more
detail around what that framework and what
the regular testing regime will look like.
But, as has been set out offence -- set out,
we will go back through the staff for the
ongoing testing.
I have another appointment so we have to move
quickly through further questions.
>> REPORTER: Yesterday you used the example
of a truck drifter from the Port of Tauranga
driving to Auckland as a possible option for
the origin.
Is that still being (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)?
If so, are you then going to test any workers
travelling between the borders?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: There look border testing
of a range of workers in airports and maritime
ports.
I was specifically using that example as - to
explain why we were testing the port workers
at toe wrong ra, because -- Tauranga, because
that is one of the ports where goods from
Americold came in through.
We went to talk about the high likelihood
it was person-to-person transmission, and
indeed that could be through the route where
a truck driver had come from Tauranga and
up to outlook act.
That was why we had -- Auckland.
That is why we tested both extensively.
>> REPORTER: Will you be testing drivers?
>> ASHLEY BLOOMFIELD: Still to work through.
The important thing is to test those at the
port whose are potentially having interactions
with crews coming in, who may be - where there
may be a risk of them having COVID-19.
That's the main focus for testing, both at
airports and ports.
>> JACINDA ARDERN: I will remind everyone
we did have maritime order in place that had
strict provisions around what those international
workers, how they needed to behave when they
were docked in New Zealand.
The fact that they needed to stay on their
ships, that their contact - the physical distancing
that needed to be kept up.
If any were to try and exit the port, they
either had to be on the ship for 28 days continuously,
and have a health check or 14 days in and
a negative health test.
>> REPORTER: How do you think businesses in
Auckland are holding up having gone through
another alert level 3?
Do you have any advice or words for business
owners, given it is uncertain whether the
levels are going to change?
>> JACINDA ARDERN: Actually, generally, what
I'm picking up for both Aucklanders and just
for New Zealanders is the uncertainty that
an environment like a global pandemic creates
and the anxiety that comes off the back of
that.
So the assurance I want to give today is that
even though we are in a world where we will
see COVID cases again, it does not necessarily
mean we have to elevate into lockdown every
time.
But it also doesn't mean that any of our systems
have failed.
Right now, what we see is exactly what we
need to do when we see those cases - move
quickly, move hard, move early.
Get back to normality as quickly as we can.
That's new's plan.
It has served -- New Zealand's plan.
It has served us weld and will keep serving
us well.
Sorry, I have to get off.
