COVID-19 update 27 August 3pm

>> Tena koutou katoa. Good afternoon, everyone.

As you will have seen from today's case numbers reported earlier today, we may be seeing the beginning of a plateau in cases. Our job is to keep up the hard work in order to bend and then flatten that curve. We are doing really well and we have evidence that what we are doing is working, but caution is still required.

As we have seen in this outbreak, Delta is definitely more infectious and it also moves more quickly. From the very beginning we change the ways we do things to meet that challenge. But by far the most effective tool that we have right now is level 4. You can see that in the data from yesterday. Of the cases reported yesterday roughly half were household contacts.

Unfortunately, we know from Australia that household members are almost universally becoming infected with COVID-19. That means you can expect our numbers to continue for some time as significant numbers of household contacts continue to test positive.

 Another positive sign of the impact of Level 4 is that from the almost 70 cases reported yesterday, only 10 had any new exposure events. Some of these were pre-lockdown. Which, again, shows that during the most dangerous period of someone's infection, people have generally been at home, just where we needed them to be, to break the chain of transmission.

 I'm also told that compliance is really high. We're generally not seeing people anywhere that we wouldn't expect when we're looking at exposure events.

Lockdown is making a difference. The question now is how long everyone stays there. Cabinet met this afternoon to look at our latest data and consider the advice of experts. Based on all the information in front of us, and of the advice of Dr Bloomfield, Cabinet has decided that all of New Zealand, south of the Auckland boundary, will move to level 3 at 11:59pm on Tuesday, August 31. We will review the settings at Cabinet a week later, on Monday 6 September.

For those in Auckland and Northland, so from the southern Auckland boundary to the very top of the country, you will remain in level 4. At Cabinet this coming month, 30 August, we'll consider how long Auckland and Northland will continue to remain in level 4 before we review those settings again.

We will use the data we will have from a full two weeks of lockdown. That will put us in the best possible position to give you as much certainty about the future as we can.

But I do want to indicate now that based on the size of the outbreak, which is larger than August last year, and potentially closer in scale to our original outbreak at the beginning of 2020, the number of daily cases we are seeing and the need to see a sustained reduction in cases before moving alert levels, it is likely at this stage that Auckland will remain at level 4 for a period of a further two weeks. This is so we can get Delta under control and reopen fully and safely. We simply can't do that if we still have a lot of Delta circulating in the community.

To move safely down, we will need to be confident we've stamped it out and have cases contained and isolated. I know there will be a couple of basic questions about these decisions. So, let me cover them off quickly now.

Firstly, some of you will want to know why we have included Northland in a continuation of level 4 at this stage. We've made that decision because of the recent case in Walkworth and the need for more data and further contact tracing in order to better assess the risk there. Although Walkworth has been been included in the Auckland boundary in the past, we are concerned about the potential movement of people on that part of the country on nourt bound journeys. We're concerned one of the exposure sites, while close to the public, is a relatively large workplace.

We want to be as careful as possible and hope the good people of Northland understand why we want to move with care, given the common transit routes. That is not to say that Northland and Auckland will continue to be treated the same way in the long term. That sun likely. We are not in a position to give a time frame yet. When we confirm Auckland set in addition a few days e a time, this coming McDonald, we will update you on our thinking for the region.

Again, a reminder to Aucklanders - the firm decision of how long you will be in alert level will we have not made. What we are giving at this stage is the most likely scenarios. That up- to-date -- update will be on Monday.

 The second question is why are we keeping the rest of the country at level 4 for a few extra days, especially the South Island.

Three reasons. The first is that will give us the confident of an Latrell Mitchell # -- full 14-day cycle, especially given we had contact over all parts of the country.

The second is we have cases in Wellington, that while currently contained did have contacts due further testing over coming days. We also have the contacts in the South. The full two-week transmission cycle is helpful.

Thirdly, we did see a positive waste water result in the South Island, namely Christchurch yesterday. It is likely this is the result of positive cases in a managed isolation facility, but further tests and a few extra days will allow us to better answer that question. And those more reminded Tes over different catchments are underway as we speak.

 As you can see from next week, our alert level settings will differ across the country. The reminder of the rules. This isn't the first time we have had different settings but the first time we have had level 4 and 3 operating at the same time.

Quick reminder of the rules. There is no regional travel allowed across these alerts, except for alert level 4 workers who need to cross a boundary to go to work or who have an exemption for another reason. No-one will be able to move from one alert level to another without an exemption to do so and the reasons for do so are very limited.

When North Island outside of Northland and Auckland moves to alert level 3, we will relate activate the boundary South of Auckland that we used in February, which took in all of the Auckland region, Port Waikato and northern Waikato. Usual checkpoints will be in place. Officials, including police, have been working on making sure the boundary will work as smoothly as possible.

A couple of pieces of advice as we prepare for these boundaries next week. If you're an essential worker and are living in Auckland but working outside of it, please ensure your employer prepares and submits an application nice and early for you to be able to continue to work across the boundary. This only applies to workers who are already working in alert level 4.

The MBIE business travel document system will be open for applications from midday Sunday at business.gov hrnt ns. If you are not an essential worker, you are not allows to cross the boundary. Brief reminder of what level 3 will involve. I will keep this brief and provide a recap on Monday. Level 3 is a very much watch and wait level, a crucial insurance policy. If by some chance there are still cases out there we have not picked up, the ability for those cases to spread remains limited under level 3.

What we want is to be able to grad his move down the levels with confidence and certainty that we're not putting Kiwis in our wider elimination strategy at risk.

Level 3 allows us to give people and businesses more freedoms, but without jeopardising the progress and gains that have been made. Businesses can open as long as they can do so safely and offer services that don't involve close personal contacts. So, that means retail can operate, but only with click and collect. The same goes for things like take aways. This can only be accessed by delivery, drive- through or contactless pick-up. Alert level 3 does not permit more social activities. Bar and restaurants stay close except for click and cheque. At level 3, contact with others needs to stay minimised. Bubbles remain.

 I will expand on Monday about how level 3 does allow small changes to bubbles to ensure care for vulnerable or isolated family members.

But the principle remains. We want you to limit contact as much as possible and stay home as much as possible. That's also why at level 3 children should only go to school if their parents are required to work and there is no option available.

Ultimately, school's for the most part do remain closed except for those workers where there are no other options available for their care of the children. Public venues remain closed. Gatherings outside your bubble are not permitted with the exception of groups of 10 for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. Masks continue to be important at level 3 as well.

Mask wearing is mandatory for workers in any business and service that are open and outwardly facing T same goss for customers. If you're picking up food or a contactless coffee, you have to wear a mask. This is to protect yourself and others. Masks remain mandatory on all public transport. But ultimately we strongly encourage you to continue to wear a face covering any time you're outside your home and in a place where it's hard to keep your distance from others.

But, as I say, there will be time to go over these settings again on Monday.

I want to finish by thanking everyone who's played such an important role in getting us to this point. The last seven days alone, 270,382 tests have been completed, equal to 5.5% of the population. That is just incredible! Each test provides an important part of the puzzle and makes our job that much easier. Every test has helped keep the team of 5 million safe.

 Now we just need to keep going. Happy to take your questions. Gemma. 

>>  REPORTER: Do you envision us having to get closer to zero cases before Auckland can come out of level 4? 

>> One of the things the I want to really strongly convey, especially to everyone in Auckland, is that previously we used four and three together. Now you are seeing we use four to try and to the bulk of the heavy lifting for us. The reason we're doing that is because we think that is the most effective and least risky place for us to do that heavy lifting. You'll already see that this moves faster, it's more infectious. So, reducing down the contact with people at the most critical stage of the outbreak is so important, which is why we're trying to give an end caution of our early thinking and that ultimately for the heart of where the outbreak is, level 4 is better and that where we previously might have used level 3. 

>>  REPORTER: Possibly more kinders would have felt (INAUDIBLE) hearing that. How important is it they stick to the rules? 

>> So important. What you would say to Auckland and all of New Zealand - what you are doing is working. Absolutely working. We are reaching a point where, yes, we expect more cases. Half of what we had yesterday were all in people's households. So, it's family members who, unfortunately, if it gets into your family, it looks like it gets everyone. We do expect those numbers - you know, will continue to be high. But already we're seeing those signs of what a difference this lockdown is making. Now, we just have to carry it through and get us out the other side. So, level 4 is the best place to do that. Dr Bloomfield, would you like to comment? 

>> One other comment to add. It sort of goes to your first. We won't necessarily need days of zero to move - for our advice to suggest moving Auckland down. It is very much where any new cases are. Even now, certainly over the coming week or two, we will be looking for any cases that are popping up unexpectedly. Cases that are already in isolation or sort of expected because they are part of household bubbles won't present any risk to the community. 

>> The one final thing, if I may. As a Cabinet and with Dr Bloomfield, because he presents to us directly. He stays for the conversation. We really grappled with today what kind of indication to share with Auckland. But the indications from Health are already there, that this is likely to be required. So, we wanted to share - that's been shared with us. We are now sharing it with you. We feel like we need to give as much clarity around our thinking as we can, but we will talk again about what we actually lock in as a decision again on Monday. REPORTER: The wage subsidy has been  (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY). 

>> Goes in two-week blocks. 

>> Assuming that will be extended for... 

>> Yes. It continues to be available in two-week blocks. There is a reapplication every two weeks. Partly, that is pause some people will be in parts of country where their status and situation may change. They might be an a business that can operate at level 3. As you can see, our granting is very, very I can Q -- very, very quick and will continue to be very rapid. 

>> And Jane? We have reports of people with COVID who are struggling at home, tested positive, waiting to get into quarantine. Can you give us an idea of how bad that problem is and how much after a risk that could be posing if they are not able to get properly into quarantine? 

>> We are moving all of them into quarantine. So, IP perhaps start with a bit of an outline of the capacity that we have. We have 274 rooms designated for quarantine across the country. 285 rooms available for close contacts also. We have - we do still have available rooms and we bring on more than 200 as of this afternoon as well. Some family members are isolating together. The delay is not because of capacity. It's because we use a specialist team who transport - as you can imagine, transporting COVID-positive cases needs to be done very carefully. We have people trained for that. We use them in our existing network for transporting people from a managed isolation facility to the Jet Pack and we use the same team. Because we are getting so many contacts in a new day, sometimes it's taking a bit of time to get everyone into a facility. 

>> Is that posing risk because we have families, cramped conditions or not ideal... Does that make it more difficult? 

>> The very unfortunate piece of information that has been provided to me is that family members are giving it to one another when they are asymptomatic. Even in some cases before they know they have COVID they have passed it on to their family. I don't believe it is posing greater risk than has already been posed over the days prior. Those families also know, of course, from the point that they are tested that they are not able to leave their homes. So, I don't believe it poses any further risk to wider community. Our families have been really good at following all the guidance. The thing that we want to do though is move people into those facilities because then we can provide good healthcare as well. And we are seeing people that are often quite unwell. So we can provide the healthcare. Meet all those welfare needs and our quarantine facilities. 

>>  REPORTER: Looking through cases you talked about in Auckland, is that going to become a bigger problem? Are you going to put greater capacity into supporting those families and their (INAUDIBLE) maybe a more suitable place to quarantine instead of home? 

>> We are... No issue outside of outlook August -- outside of Auckland. We have had to bring on additional facilities, with unwith 200ment roos available. We will monitor. Hour view is where we can provide those families with healthcare, meeting people's welfare needs, access to other providers in a one-stop-shop, that is the best we can do for families right now. On the safety concerns, Dr Bloomfield, you might want to say something? 

>> Yes. Just to add it doesn't present any further risk if those people are isolating at home and recalling that even our contacts, self-isolate separate from the bubble - other people in their bubble. The point you made is statements the family group is quite large and so it is harder to do that. So, those are the families that are prioritised for being moved. And also very early on, the very first discussion is to make sure that any welfare or other needs that they may have are being met. The only other point is some people being shifted to our facilities for contacts, who can't safely isolated at home, are for people who we have a strong feeling they will become cases. So, those people are automatically moved in as well, if that's a strong sense they may have already been infected within their family bubble. 

>> Mikey? 

>>  REPORTER: A worker at an Auckland rest home tested positive for COVID. How concerned are you, given our experience from previous out- Brad Hoggs and what's been done... Auckland? Just clarifying. You will have seen... Sorry, connected to our Warkworth case. You will seen we have an essential worker in works in an aged care facility who is fully vaccinated who tested positive. Across the aged care facilities, remember we prioritised those facilities and workforce for testing. Across that network in the Auckland Northland region, my recollection is that we have we have 88% of residents across the Auckland Metro region vaccinated with the first dose across Northland, 78%. I Muncing is for this particular facility in question, at the time that we had vaccinations offered. The uptake rate for first dose was around 73%. Dr Bloomfield can speak to the fact that sometimes why that right might not be 100% and also what else he knows of this case. 

>> Yes. Couple of comments. The first is, of course, within rest home settings that often there are - there are residents who are being admitted quite frequently. So, even if we vaccinate all the residents at one point in time, other also be being admitted to that facility. In this case, the DHB had had a team go in there three times to support vaccination of staff and of the residents. I also want to point out, because it's alert level 4, this staff member and all others were using alert level 4 precautions, including full use of PPE. So, that reduces the risk as well as the fact the staff member was fully vaccinated. 

>> REPORTER:  (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) working in the aged care facility during level 4? 

>> Yes. As an essential worker. 

>> Yes. 

>> Done two shifts before they knew they were infectious. 

>> Yep. 

>> That must be concerning for you, given the fact it's such a conintooed space with people that are in... 

>> Exactly the reason that we worked hard to prioritise that essential workforce. So, this was a fully vaccinated individual and they were working in an environment that at the time the vaccination was rolled out first doses were over 70%. And that's exactly why that was prioritised. Of course, we put an extra layer of precautions at level 4 in the way that staff are using personal protective equipment and so on. As you can imagine, all the protocols around testing of residents and staff and so on, as you would expect around that fall they. 

>> Whose responsibility is it to make sure all residents are vaccinated? Health? 

>> All DHBs worked very hard with rest homes at - or aged residential care facilities to ensure that every one of them had the opportunity to have staff and reserve events vaccinated -- residents. Some residents and/or their whanau may decide not to be vaccinated. Some may be near end of life, that is a decision they make there. The other point is as new residents are admitted, all our rest care facilities have primary care or general practice so,,ed. There is a mechanism for newly admitted residents to be vaccinated as well. 

>>  REPORTER: (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) they will be in group 2. Group 2 is 480,000. Probably only 41 ,000... 

>> One of the issues will be - there will be resident whose will come in during that period. There will be resident whose may change their mind. There will be staff members who come onboard. There is the need to give the constant availability. But there was a beard -- period we had a very focused campaign to reach people. I already had an endcation there are some residents in someplaces that are seeking to be vaccinated the, having already been offered and changed their position. 

>>  REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE) included in the Auckland level 4 lockdown, will that change resources? Will Auckland see more resources for testing? Will the population in the far north being Maori, will we see a ramp-up in vaccination? 

>> We kept Northland in. We have done it for now. It is very much because of what we have seen around some of those transit routes into the Northland area. It is a cautious approach. Extra testing was put around the Warkworth case. That is where we saw concern. Testing remains available in the upper - in the upper parts of Northland,. In terms of what we have been talking about is additional welfare needs that may arise out of Auckland and Northland, and Minister Sepuloni will have more to say on that tomorrow. Because that has been a focus of our discussions. Anything on testing further. 

>> Just to say Northland surged up testing capacity and testing rates have gone up since the start of the outbreak. I guess it's a message to finish in the country - the next couple of days, if you have symptoms, wherever you are, get a test. The sooner the better. Because then we can process it and we've got as much information as possible to inform... 

>> Can I say that as well for the South Island - and for other parts of the country - we have given you an indication of our intention is on Tuesday. But we absolutely still want symptomatic people tested. If we see any evidence that we've made the wrong call and where we move, we will be - we will change that decision in the meantime. What gives us extra confidence is if symptomatic people get tested and we keep rates of testing up. 

>> Yeah. 

>>  REPORTER: You mentioned seeing numbers on homeless that have been - had - received the vaccination (INAUDIBLE) ask for the... 

>> Forgive me. 

>> Do you recall them? 

>> I recall that one of them... I recall and hasful. I wouldn't want attribute them to the wrong community organisation. Do try and keep as many numbers in my head as I can, but it was about 72 hours ago that I saw that one. I'll ask lovely Andrew at the back to help me with that later. Thank you. Yes? 

>> REPORTER: Has there been any transmission between bubbles since lockdown began? 

>> Transmission between bubbles? 

>> Yes. 

>> Because people have gone and visited other bubbles, for instance? Is that... 

>> Just in the community? Yeah. Not household contacts but... 

>> Not that I have been advised of. I do ask a general compliance question. One thing I can say that we've seen - you will seen that we've already talked about that we had yesterday roughly 14 locations of interest where we know there was transmission within the locations. I did say we'd come back and talk in more detail about some of those. We're looking to do that, ah, on - I think over the weekend. Compiling some of that data and sharing it. One thing that has been shared with me is we've had some transmission amongst three essential work places. We're just a COVID-positive person has passed it on to someone they work alongside. They are not public-facing. So, those are work places that are done able to continue working. Not public facing. But they have been someone what's infected someone else within the work places, despite, of course, infection protection controls. So, we undertake this constant analysis to look at whether all the infection protection controls were operating, are what they need to be. Those are some of the reasons why. Yes? Mark and then I will come to the front. Yep. 

>>  REPORTER: If you found a new cases at level 3, are you confident you would be able to handle just a small number of cases at level 3? Or would that require a return... 

>> You will see before moving to level 3 we're applying a higher bar than perhaps we would have before. So, you can see for the South Island, no cases and it just as an example - no cases. But contacts. Waste water testing, something we want to nail down. But in the past, you may have moved to level 3 when you're in the holding pattern. Now we are waiting until we have a got reasonable level of confidence before moving. In part, I'd say that's a response to Delta. That is why we give the indication to Auckland. Where they may have gone into level 3 earlier, we're now saying level 4 is the best place for that. Dr Bloomfield? 

>> Yes. The aim would be under level 3, if we saw a case pop- up, we could deal with that through testing, contact tracing, isolation. Recalling that level 3 is still very restrictive on movement. And so it is our - it does provide quite a bit cover in that situation. 

>> Yeah. 

>> You can see from the Wellington group of cases that actually with just one or two cases there, and with the isolation and contact tracing, we have able to get around that group of cases. 

>> Yeah. I think - not run the risk of it. Because for us the better place to be when you're discovering the situations. Did you have another question on that, Mark? 

>>  REPORTER: I have a related question.  (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) house committee yesterday he is not sure if a Delta outbreak in 2022  (SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) highly vaccinated could be controlled with just... 

>> Yeah. 

>> How concerning is that? 

>> Yeah.(INAUDIBLE) house committee yesterday he is not sure if a Delta outbreak in 2022(INAUDIBLE) highly vaccinated could be controlled with just... 

>> Yeah. 

>> How concerning is that? 

>> Yeah. What we have said is our focus in the here and now is elimination. Professor Skegg agrees with that. So do so many other experts that have featured so heavily in our decision making and our advice. That is our absolute focus, all the while vaccinating as quickly as we can. New Zealanders are doing a fantastic job. When it comes to 2022 it is fair to say we're seeing some things that are challenging contact tracing. The fact that whilst this isn't documented in research and evidence, our public health units are observing very, very fast infection times. And so that does make contact tracing more challenging. So, these are all the things that I expect over the coming months we will look at, same way we always have when we had Alpha, and then Delta, and consider what that will mean for our strategy next year. But it doesn't change the fact that our number 1 strategy right now is elimination and vaccination. Every New Zealanders can play their part in that. 

>>  REPORTER: Prime Minister, last week the ATAGI epidemiologists said one of the potential options that the system stressed - suspend always flights, is that something that the Government has (INAUDIBLE) option? 

>> You know, every time we have a situation like this, of course we sit and think, wouldn't it be easier if you could just seal off a country from its ports and from its borders. But you actually just as a nation, you can't exist. So, it's - we have essential goods and supplies that come in via air freight. That involves our people being in contact with others. Our ports are essential to the importation and export of goods. It's - I don't think fair to say that the only risk that's presented are by travellers. It's not. It's by any contact with the outside world. It is almost impossible to exist without that contact. When it comes to inbound travellers, we can't close off ourselves to our citizens. So, we just - under... We have to - we have an obligation under the bill of rights to allow our citizens to return to their place of citizenship and we need to continue to allow that. But what we can do is make it as safe as possible. 

>>  REPORTER: Yesterday you said you didn't want to have lockdowns ongoing. 

>> Correct. 

>> How can you avoid a lockdown, though, when - if there is a breach? Infections are so fast, surely you have to do... 

>> That is what I have been talking the about over the lifetime of COVID. We know COVID's not going away quickly. But our strategy with COVID can evolve and already has. As we have new tools, we use them. The latest tool that we have available is vaccination. It will make a bigger difference to us if we're able to get as many people as possible vaccinated. The one thing I'd point to is some countries where you are seeing outbreaks, they actually don't have quite as high vaccination rate as may appear. So, it can make a difference if you have a large number of people vaccinated. 

>> In? 

>> REPORTER: Is Northland facing another two-week lockdown getting anything to do with outlookers potentially travelling up, you know, the reports of people going to holiday houses and anything - you talking about transit routes. 

>> Yeah. 

>> Can I clarify one of your responses? You said if you'd been overcautious, you might recheck that. Would that mean Auckland... 

>> Right now, Auckland and Northland, we keep them in the same position. So, when the rest of the country next week, early next week, moves to 3 Auckland and Northland will stay at 4. On Monday we will give the timeline around absolutely confirm how long that will likely be. I have given an indication today that we believe Climate Change Response (Auction Price) Amendment Bill is -- Auckland is likely to need another two weeks. It is unlikely North Northland will be in the same position. Right now, no-one should move. 3, 4, both levels don't allow regional travel. No-one should be moving. There is no advantage to moving. Particularly into the north where we're keeping it at the same alert level. 

>> REPORTER: It is just part of what happens? 

>> We haven't seen any risk posed. What we have seen with the case we have at the moment is someone who is at a location of interest before lockdown. And has gone home. I will try and hand around those who haven't had a question yet. Thomas. 

>> REPORTER: A network of GPs toll its network that for a variety of sources are telling them that children under 12 have been given the COVID-19 vaccine, despite that not be approved. Are you aware of this? What's your response to that? 

>> I couldn't comment on that. Dr Bloomfield? 

>> I'm certainly not aware of it. I will follow that up. What I would say is that the COVID Immunisation Register has a very clear-cut-off and so unless the date of birth put in there is over the - means the person is 12 or over, then they cannot put - cannot be included in the COVID immunisation register and also there is a requirement on the staff who are registering people to make sure they are checking the age and verifying the age of children. 

>> I'm not implying it's a mistake. It could be the case that... 

>> Yeah. 

>>..some GPs are taking it on their own (INAUDIBLE) registering. 

>> You are saying there is somehow some kind of... 

>> I'm not... 

>> Black market for vaccinations for children? 

>> What I would say is we are watching the evidence very, very closely for efficient can say and safety in children under 12. And we will be moving quickly to provide advice to Government when that evidence becomes available. And one of the reasons why we keep strongly supporting an elimination strategy is because we want to have that evidence and to be able to vaccinate our under 12s. In the meantime, we have plenty of people who we need to vaccinate, 12 and over, and parents should not be seeking vaccination for their children under 12 because the evidence is not yet there. 

>> Yep. I'm going to come across here and then sweep back. 

>> Thank you. The airlines have different views on the traz Tasman bubble which is coming up for review. Qantas says it doesn't expect to be able to fly until mid-December. Air New Zealand says it might be back by November, but not under the bubble arrangement. Are you giving advice on airlines on what to expect? 

>> No. We haven't received any advice. We have given no advice. As you can imagine, that is not where our thinking is at. We are trying to ensure we look after all New Zealanders, getting us back to the best position possible. It's very clear that a bubble right now is just not a goer. Of course, with he stick to the timelines. End of September we will look at the settings and give - just a bit of a long-term view as to what is going to happen. I know a lot of people are hanging on those decisions for their long- term plans. 

>> (INAUDIBLE). 

>> Forgive me, I believe it was end of September, from memory. 

>> End of September. 

>> Is there an ambition - there were five Australian states and territory recording zero cases. Is there an ambition to reopen. 

>> Those states would not open to us. Despite what's said, they are running pretty much an elimination strategy. 

>> My question is to the future. You're trying to eliminate the virus, and are likely to. Touching wood. Is there an ambition to open before Christmas. 

>> That isn't wood! Too soon to say. Those states have an for the most part an elimination strategy. They want to make sure they are open to countries they consider to be safe. So, it does all feel a bit premature right now. What we will do at the end of September, though, is just give an endcation of where we think things are heading. People are planning around that. We need to give them long-term certainty. I will come that way and then. Sorry. 

>> Can you confirm whether or not the Government has the vaccination roll-out plan specifically for the homeless? If not, is the government purely relying on the city missions and the like to vaccinate the homeless community? 

>> So, we work with the providers who have direct staff that SPER -- interface with the homeless community. The Auckland City Mission have GP services they offer to their people. They have trusted relationships. They already have contact with that community and they are the best place to offer it. So our vaccination team have been working with those providers to ensure that we reach the chronically homeless. 

>> (INAUDIBLE) similar. The Maori have the relationships with the community, but the government still had a plan, still had something to go with. So, does the homeless community have something like that in place? 

>> Some of the homeless community have already been vaccinated. That demonstrates, that, yes, we had an ambition to ensure we were reaching that vulnerable community. Because each anywhere we identified vulnerability they were amongst those first where it is different, has been for state housing, for instance. So, we honed in on those who were highly vulnerable, chronically homeless and had existing relationships with social services. Yeah. Yes? 

>> Dr Bloomfield, just on contact tracing, are you (INAUDIBLE) spokesperson talked about how for many of the congregation, English is the second language. Some people were even contacted more than once. What are you going to do to fix those issues around contact tracers, particularly for Pacific people who may not have dplirk as the first language? 

>> Well, two things. The first is our - using the - working with the Pacific providers there in South Auckland have been involving with the community and blirking a special pop-up testing to both do testing and provide information. But, secondly, our providers of the contact tracing service, including Heathline, but others have providers who speak Pacific language, many who speak Samoan? 

>> Do you have that? I got asked how many Pacific-speaking contact tracers? 

>> I don't have it here. I have someone here in the room with you and they will follow-up straight after. 

>> (INAUDIBLE) able to cater to the population... 

>> Very confident we have got the capacity and the mechanisms in place to ensure that community has got the information they need. 

>> Sorry. I will take both of you! Either one. 

>> I wanted to talk about the decision to let Aucklanders know they will likely be in lockdown for another two weeks. Is it likely that the rest of the country will stay at level 3 while Auckland is at... 

>> No decisions there. What we're giving it is an early indication of thinking watch he confirm that for outlook August on Monday. That is an -- for Auckland on Monday. Early indication. From the rest of the country, 11.59 Tuesday they move to 3. We will review that weekly. 

>> Could there be a 4/2 split. 

>> No consideration has been given. We are using the best data we have in front of us right now. I think Aucklanders will see the numbers and understand that two weeks presents a full 14-day cycle. They will have seen those used before and our experts referred to why they are so important. So, this isn't an early indication based on what we were seeing. 

>> Couple of questions about Warkworth, why haven't you released locations of interest for Warkworth two days after confirming they have a positive case? Why are we talking Warkworth differently than the core Mondayal no term -- Coromandel in terms of getting people tested and (INAUDIBLE). 

>> The sites are not public facing. 

>> As soon as we get the first waste water result in Warkworth the additional waste water testing, the surge testing capacity went in there on - over last weekend. That is how the first case was identified. And then the family - some of the family members of that case subsequently became positive. Not all the exposures - or exposure events - become locations of interest. If they are a workplace where it is east to know all the people who would have been been there, we don't make ate location of interest. The exposure event associates with that, the Warkworth cases, are not necessarily locations of interest that the public would have access to. 

>> One of those - the largest exposure site in Warkworth has another site further north with staff moving between the two locations. Is that a concern? 

>> It's one of the key considerations for why we are... Keep Northland at alert... 

>> We had a site linked to that where we believe there was movement of worker. That was one of the considerationings, yes. But, again those are individuals that are directly contacted as part of contact tracing. Those where we believe the members of the public who we haven't reached... That is where we use the... 

>> (INAUDIBLE). On the waste water testing and Christchurch, are you still confident they have come from managed isolation? Or is there... 

>> I will let Dr Bloomfield up. 

>> I asked my people to look at the instances where we have had positive waste water results on more than one occasion in Christchurch and cases in the MIF. It fits the pattern. There are four cases in the quarantine facility that would explain it. They had low CT values, so would have been shedding a lot of virus. What we ever doing is making sure that by taking samples from a number of pump stations, we are able to really rule out that there are not other cases in the community that aren't being masked by the result. I also have - just a follow-up to an earlier question. We have 334 Samoan-speaking contact tracers amongst our 1,600. 

>> While I can, I will double back to the question on vaccinating the homeless. The three Auckland Metro DHBs have been working on that programme. Keeping in mind these are numbers for the chronically homeless, they have been offering vaccinations via a GP clinic at the Auckland City Mission. And so far they have vaccinated 89 homeless - homeless, including 33 Maori. They also have mobile outreach teams that are working with homeless providers to visit temporary housing sites and vaccinate there. They have vaccinated 63 people in that way. Providers are also offering transport to those in temporary housing to take them to vaccination centres. Where they have done that, I don't have the exact figures for how many they have transported to existing vaccination centres. I will come back down. Mikey? 

>> Questions for colleague, please. Dr Bloomfield, are you happy with the level of testing happening in Auckland? Prime Minister, just when you say that people shouldn't move regions under level 3, what about those who are having to return to work and don't have adequate child care arrangements for their children? What is your advice... 

>> If you are currently an essential worker, you will be able to continue to work. And so that means if you live in a level 4 area and you're an essential worker, your employer will help with exemptions so you can cross the boundary. We have provision, funding mechanisms, to support people to access specific, tailored child care for those essential workers. We will have more announcements to say how we are continuing to allow that. 

>> Asking for level 3 workers who are going to have to go back to work under level 3. And don't have adequate child care arrangements. 

>> Remember, for level 3, level - at level 3 people are able in those emergency situations where they have no other way to find care, they are able to access the ECEs. And there are minor arrangements that can be made for someone's bubble in order to ensure care for the vulnerable and dependant. It must be exclusive and only for level 3. I will expand more on the detail on Monday. They are the same settings that we've had in the past. One thing I will quickly clarify. If you live in Auckland, you're currently not working, but the place that you work is going to be in a level 3 area and the place you work will be opening when they move to level 3, you will not be able to travel from level 4 over the that level 3 work site. So, it's only essential workers who are able to continue that movement. 

>> Prime Minister, on... 

>> Sorry, sorry. 

>> On testing, yes, very pleased with the testing in Auckland. As of this morning, nearly 10% of people had been tested since the start of the outbreak. 10% of our Pacific community. Fantastic result. 

>> On the Health website, locations of active cases, there is a category called "ore". There are 163 people listed as - in that category. Can you explain where they would be? 

>> I believe they might be those situations where they are not publicly facing. Dr Bloomfield. 

>> For places? 

>> Yes. The locations of active cases and... 

>> Right. 

>> There is 145 in managed isolation - sorry, managed facilities, 17 in hospital and then at the bottom there is a category. 

>> Sorry. Forgive me have. Something different. 

>> Those would be people who would be in the process of being taken to a managed isolation facility, although I suspect that... 

>> The website would probably have a lag. 

>> The web it site would have a lag. 

>> They would be the people we were talking about the start in terms... 

>> Possibly. I wouldn't want to hazard a guess. Can we come back to you? We do move people through. Once we have notification - as quickly as we can. Moving them is ast faer process than updating the... 

>> We have sought clarification from the ministry. Can we seek extra specific clarification about what that category is and who they would be after? 

>> Yes. Indeed. 

>> We can do that. 

>> On the vaccine, (INAUDIBLE) over the weekly average, you would probably just be without running out of supply. If you had days of 80-plus on the current schedule you would run out. If you talked to Pfizer about getting larger weekly shipments. Are you use looking to use the booking system to trim down the amount of vaccine every day. Second question - transmission rate - do you have an estimate of the effective transmission rate currently under level 4, as in below 1. 

>> I don't have that figure. It does get recall grated every time we get new Dili figures coming in. I haven't checked any of the modelling in the last 24 hours. On vaccination, you're right. We are vaccinating in an extraordinary rate. We do receive our cases from Pfizer weekly. You will recall that we did flag that actually when we start - we start getting very large shipments in October. In the intervening period we modelled around very high rates, but what we're seeing is extraordinary. We are working hard on a strategy at the moment to accommodation that growth. I will look to give you an update perhaps next week on that. In the meantime, you know that - I love to hold up a good graph. Just for the memes. 

>>  (LAUGHTER) 

>> But this black line is New Zealand plotted against Australia, Canada, the US and the UK against their peak periods of vaccination. It's against our percentage of population, to try and make it a fair comparison. You can just see New Zealand's skyrocketing. In contention at the moment to beat some of the peaks of Canada. So, our goal at the moment is to vaccinate more people than any other country in the world. And at this rate, New Zealand is doing very, very well. 

>> Can you (INAUDIBLE) anyone's vaccine that... 

>> I will stick to what I said. I'm going to give you an update on our strategy to accommodation the huge growth in vaccinations next week. Jason? 

>> The Herald and guardian are reporting Afghan interpreters have been left behind. They say they feel betrayed by the New Zealand Government. How could they have been left behind in this sort of situation? And what is your message to those that say they are feeling betrayed. 

>> Well, as I said, we had more people that we needed to get out than we have taken out. So, we do know there will be people for whom they may have had a visa issued or the ability to travel into New Zealand we just weren't able to get out in time. I can't speak to who those individuals are. I can't speak to even whether some of them are citizens or permanent residents or whether they were recently issued a visa. We have a number who are already en route. We are still processing those who were on that last air lift out. After that we will be able to give you a better sense of who it is we were able to get out. But when you ask - you ask why that was the case. You would have heard that Chief of Defence stand before you today and talk about the extraordinary measures that were taken to try and find people. Literally, the Defence Force being issued with photos of people and going out and searching for them, communicating the best routes to try and get into the airport, including extraordinary crossing of different waterways and the like. It was an incredibly hard mission. We wanted to bring more. But we did bring at least several hundred people to safety. 

>> Could the Government turn down the application months ago. This could have been prevented if somebody at a minutal level said, yes, bring them in, rather than denying them. 

>> I can't confirm whether or not you're referring to someone who didn't have a right to travel to New Zealand or simply had a right but was unable to be evacuated. I eat get a better sense of that one we finish processing the people who currently aren't even in New Zealand yet. 

>> What is your message, the ones who have been left behind and are feeling betrayed? 

>> We went through extraordinary sfefrts to try and bring home as many as we could who were either New Zealanders or who had supported New Zealand. But the devastating thing is we weren't able to bring everyone. And now we need to look to see what we can do for those who remain. Just findful of who I haven't perhaps... I will take my best friend. Mark? 

>> In April last year when some parts of the country had gone quite a while without a new case and there are still cases cropping up in other parts of the country, the government decided not to move down alert levels regionally because there were worried there might be cooperation issues of some people saying Auckland (INAUDIBLE). 

>> Yeah. 

>> Is that something you yes -- are worried about? 

>> Right at the beginning we were worried about the management of boundaries. Right very, very early on. And since then, we have operated boundaries. Under challenging conditions. We're actually - you have been able to have regional movement. Under 3 and 4 regional movement is not allowed under either of those settings. Much easier when you have got a 3 and 4 boundary. That's what - we have never had a 3 and 4 boundary before. I do expect that to be easier. The   They are providing - they are providing the vast majority of the security in and around the airport. So, we have finished the deployment as it stands. Now, we need to look at next steps and we will have to work with international partners on that. 

>> Yes? I will come and... 

>> Thank you. With the most of New Zealand at level 3 and Auckland in lockdown, most of the country will be able to get the KFC, take away. Are you worried about what will mean for lockdown fatigue for Aucklanders and impact of the buy-in of the team of 5 million? 

>> The most important thing for me to remind people is that, yes, you might be able to order food but there's not a lot more in the way of those freedoms. Yes, that is exists. I would say, again, three and four, we keep cautious approaches with both. You are still very much meant to maintain your bubbles. You're not meant to have social contact. You're not meant to be visiting other people's houses. All those core fundamental things continue in both 3 and 4. What I'd also say to Auckland, everyone continues to be with you. Three, yes, has restrictions. Many of the same restrictions Aucklanders will feel. There will still be a lot of solidarity across the country. 

>> OK. I think I did call last question on Ben.  

>> Do you enexcavation Parliament operating next -- envision Parliament operating next week in. 

>> It appears the ousted Prime Minister of Samoa has (INAUDIBLE) wanting a female prime minister in the job. Is there anything you could say to assuage him of that views? 

>> You sit and listen to me day after day when asked about the dom stuck politic of other countries we are always careful to ensure that we - that we respect the sovereignty of other countries and their electoral processes. I can assure you I do that publicly. I do that privately. So, we absolutely maintained that happen perspective and position all the way through. It was only once you saw some of those final declarations by the court that we then moved to congratulate the incoming new Prime Minister of Samoa. On the first question, which... 

>> (INAUDIBLE) democracy as well. 

>> New Zealand democracy. As I said, we wanted to use this last week to see if there were enhancements we could make to enable the one element of Parliament that we haven't had this week, which is Question Time, and I believe there are solutions on the table to overcome that. So, I'll leave it to Minister Hipkins and the Business Committee and the Speaker. But certainly we have been very open to that, because that is the one thing that's been missing. I would say, though, that you will see there's been scrutiny provided by our live broadcast of ministers providing hours of time where they have been available for questioning from members, and that usually only happens a couple of times a year. Thank you, everyone. Do look after yourselves. There will be not live update at 1pm tomorrow, but I will be back on Sunday.