5. Question No. 5—COVID-19 ResponseVANUSHI WALTERS (Labour—Upper Harbour) (remote) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 5—COVID-19 Response5. VANUSHI WALTERS (Labour—Upper Harbour) (remote) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: What recent changes has the Government made in response to the Omicron outbreak in New Zealand?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Thank you Mr Speaker. As of last Friday with case numbers growing New Zealand's moved to phase 3 of our Omicron response plan. These changes are intended to help ease the pressure on our testing and contact tracing systems as case numbers increase over the coming weeks while also helping to ensure that critical services and supply chains remain operational and our economy can keep moving. There's no doubt that the next few weeks are going to be quite challenging but New Zealand is better positioned than most countries to respond to Omicron. What we're seeing with case numbers is what we've expected to see; we just need to stick to the plan as we manage higher case numbers in the coming weeks before we do reach that peak.Vanushi Walters: How does isolation change for individuals at phase 3?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: There are number of significant changes that we've announced. Close contacts will no longer be required to self-isolate. Only confirmed cases and household contacts of a confirmed case will be required to do so. Confirmed cases and household contacts should isolate for 10 days but they can now self-release after the 10th day providing testing requirements are met. If they develop symptoms they are encouraged to test sooner. We're continuing to support our critical services to operate and the critical worker exemption scheme announced last month will enable eligible household contacts—David Seymour: What about teachers?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: —to return to work during their isolation period—including teachers where they have to—by returning a daily negative rapid antigen test.Vanushi Walters: What does testing look like at phase 3?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: With millions of rapid antigen tests (RATs) now dispatched around the country to testing sites GPs pharmacies and within workplaces rapid antigen tests have become the primary form of testing. The people who need them can now access a RAT test from hundreds of locations making it easier to get. Over the coming days the number of access points will continue to increase significantly. Locations that have rapid antigen tests available can be found on the Healthpoint website. PCR testing will be reserved for people who are clinically indicated so that it's targeted to those most in need. A PCR test will no longer be required to verify a positive rapid antigen test result in most cases. In addition approved rapid antigen tests are now available to be sold to the public through retail outlets. This will provide a choice and access for the general public and for small businesses.Vanushi Walters: What else can people do to prepare themselves and their households against the spread of Omicron?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Preparation and supporting one another will continue to be a key measure. We've been asking people to prepare for the last few weeks both mentally and by putting their own response plans in place. People should make their own isolation plan and their stay-at-home kits in conjunction with friends and whānau and be ready to use the tools that are available. That will help us to free up vital resources. Our vaccination rate should make the next period less of a worry for the vast majority of people but we are still strongly encouraging people to get vaccinated and to get boosters. You're 10 times less likely to need hospital care and it helps to lower the rate of transmission.