7. Question No. 7—COVID-19 ResponseDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) (remote) to the Minister for COVID-19 ResponseQuestion No. 7—COVID-19 Response7. DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori) (remote) to the Minister for COVID-19 Response: Does he stand by the decision to loosen protections under the COVID-19 traffic light framework when Aotearoa's COVID-19 daily mortality rate has for the first time passed the daily mortality rate for the United States?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL (Associate Minister for COVID-19 Response) on behalf of the Minister for COVID-19 Response: Yes. The changes announced last week informed by the latest evidence from here and overseas have been specifically designed to make life simpler and closer to normal while retaining the things that have proven effective in reducing the spread of the virus like face masks testing and isolation and capacity limits in the highest risk settings. Our response has and will continue to focus on protecting those groups who face a disproportionate effect from this virus including Māori Pasifika immune compromised and disability. I know hearing about reports of deaths can be confronting and of course reflect a loss for the affected whānau. And I would note that while deaths linked to COVID in New Zealand have sadly been rising at this stage a comparison of death rates between two countries based on a single day is not a useful comparison given our different stages in an Omicron outbreak. New Zealand's daily death rate per million remains five times lower than the US at its peak in late 2020 and four times lower than the US's more recent Omicron peak in February. The United States has now had almost 1 million people die from COVID-19. New Zealand's total mortality per capita is still one of the lowest in the OECD.DEPUTY SPEAKER: Supplementary Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.Hon Member: Muted.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I'm sorry we're not getting any sound through the system. I wonder if we can get some technical help with that hopefully.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Can you hear me now?DEPUTY SPEAKER: We can hear you now.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Anō—is he concerned that the recent announcement to loosen restrictions sends the wrong message to the country when Māori Pasifika disabled and low-income whānau are still greatly at risk from COVID-19; if not why not?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: The Government needs to justify any public health restrictions in terms of their efficacy and we know that the removal of mandates or the use of vaccine passes at a time when there are high levels of immunity does not further increase the public health risk. We're also advised that there is minimal additional public health risk from the removal of gathering limits at the red setting. People who face high risk of illness from COVID can be reassured that we continue public health measures where they make an important difference. This includes the recommended use of masks the isolation of cases and contacts the use of testing to identify cases and the provision of care in the community and in hospitals to ensure that the impact of COVID is minimised.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: What is being done if anything to strengthen support and resourcing for Māori Pasifika disabled and low-income whānau who are the most at risk from the worsening COVID-19 mortality rate and ensure this support continues into winter?Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL: Indeed a large amount of work across our response is under way in partnership with those providers. So if we take any aspect of the COVID response: for example ongoing efforts to roll out boosters are under way with over 70 Māori providers; efforts to make sure that rapid antigen tests are provided to Māori and Pasifika whānau are vast—there are over a thousand Māori organisations providing rapid antigen tests. There is an integrated welfare response between Māori providers and the Ministry of Social Development that ensures that food is provided to whānau who need it while they're isolating and that whānau's needs are managed in a holistic way. And indeed these efforts will be sustained through winter should another peak arise.Debbie Ngarewa-Packer: Point of order. Thank you. I understand the answer given. However my question was what is being done to strengthen the support. I didn't ask for a list of what's currently being done.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question was addressed.