8. Question No. 8—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 8—Health8. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his statements and actions regarding the coronavirus outbreak? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): In their full context yes except for those actions taken in a personal capacity for which I have already apologised to New Zealanders. In particular I stand by the decision to go hard and go early to combat COVID-19 which thanks to the support and sacrifice of New Zealanders has seen us manage to stop community transmission and eliminate the unknown spread of the virus for now. Dr Shane Reti: Does he stand by his statement that the coronavirus response has been textbook given the Epidemic Response Committee heard from community in-home providers that vulnerable people have refused care because the provider did not have personal protective equipment (PPE)? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I would say that we have moved to nationalise the distribution of PPE. Previously that was provided by the private providers that did this service. They were responsible for their own health and safety plans and for securing their own PPE. When this became a challenge the Government has moved to set up a national distribution service which is new and I have requested a rapid stocktake to ensure that that PPE is getting to where it needs to go. Dr Shane Reti: Prior to the national distribution service was PPE management textbook? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I think it's very evident to people that while by and large things have worked as they have intended to the whole way through setting up a new system—if you read any textbook—is liable to have a few challenges in it and we have heard certainly anecdotes of PPE in the early stages not getting to where it needed to go. That's why I'm seeking the reassurance since we have stepped in to make sure that the system is working as it should. Dr Shane Reti: Can GPs expect any further financial support from the Government and if so what date can they expect to receive this? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: What I can tell the member is that the Government has already put $45 million into primary care as a part of our COVID response. Health officials are continuing to look at what further support might be appropriate to assist health and disability providers to meet the costs of preparing for COVID-19. Dr Shane Reti: On what infectious—[Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! The pair of you. Start again Dr Reti. Dr Shane Reti: On what infectious disease basis were cruise ship passengers who disembarked after self-isolation was compulsory at airports allowed to disembark at ports such as Auckland without self-isolation—on what infectious disease basis? Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: If the member has specific examples that he wishes to bring to me I will happily consider them. I suspect he's referring to the earlier stages of the pandemic response. I think what we've seen with everybody in their bubbles over the recent period is that we now have the transmission rate of the virus down to below half a person per case. It has been a very successful response. I'm very happy to answer specific questions from the member if he wants to put them in writing.