5. Question No. 5—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 5—Health5. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with the Prime Minister's statement on the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak that New Zealand's response has been textbook"?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Yes noting the full context of those comments which were in relation to the first confirmed case of COVID-19. As the Prime Minister said on Saturday New Zealand has one confirmed case. It is contained and it is being dealt with in a textbook fashion.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Was it a textbook response when a passenger arriving from Iran visibly ill with virus symptoms was able to leave Auckland Airport without health staff questioning the passenger?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The member needs to be very careful with the assumptions that he is making. If he's referring to the confirmed case I can confirm that that passenger was in a wheelchair. We were aware they had mobility issues and I can confirm that the passenger was wearing a face mask. I'm advised that due to public announcements in the airport the passenger's family knew to ring Healthline which they did. As that member is aware health officials are working closely with airport staff. Airport processes are being reviewed of course in relation to the incident. We are planning for a case to come to New Zealand. We have been planning for some time. Our plans were well advanced. We were well prepared when one arrived. This case shows the processes we have in place are working.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Did the passenger who is now confirmed with COVID-19 get contact from health officials at Auckland Airport?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: As I said the case is being reviewed. The person certainly was manually processed—[Interruption]—Hon Dr Nick Smith: Answer the question.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: —by customs staff who were—SPEAKER: Order! Order! Some of us would like to hear the answer and Mr Bennett and Dr Smith yelling doesn't help.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: The person certainly received health information. We know that that is why they phoned the helpline.Hon Michael Woodhouse: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I realise I can't be given a yes or no answer to the question but I don't even think the question was addressed.SPEAKER: No that was almost certainly addressed and I would've said "certainly" if it wasn't rudely interrupted by his colleagues.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Is it in the textbook that senior doctors at Wellington Hospital should complain that people with coronavirus-type symptoms are being refused tests for the virus?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: At every stage our response has been driven by science and by health experts and doctors. There is a clear case definition developed by experts that clinicians are using when considering who should be tested. Last week that definition was widened to include travel to several more countries. I will leave it to doctors to decide who should be tested rather than take advice from the Opposition on that.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Why does the textbook response involve having health advice cards at airports that are six years old and list symptoms that are not consistent with those of COVID-19?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I reject the member's assertion.Hon Tim Macindoe: Does he believe that it's a textbook response for his Government and DHBs to fail to respond to requests from the Retirement Villages Association and the New Zealand Aged Care Association for urgent meetings around a coordinated response and the supply of critical medical supplies and safety equipment when elderly New Zealanders—SPEAKER: Order! Order! How many questions?Hon Tim Macindoe: This is one question sir.SPEAKER: Well I've got three so far I think. The member will wind up.Hon Tim Macindoe: —I can only see one question here—in premises represented by those organisations are most vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Health professionals across New Zealand have been working very well together. They are following the New Zealand influenza pandemic plan. I note that was updated in August 2017 and has been tested by officials under this Government's watch. The coordination I think in the circumstances has been helped by the Government's preparedness. From acting early to restrict our border access we have kept COVID-19 out of New Zealand for longer than 48 other countries and that has given us more time to be more prepared. I would argue that the coordination happening across the country is something that we ought to thank our health officials for.Kieran McAnulty: Given he agrees with the Prime Minister that this was a textbook response does he also agree with Professor Michael Baker of the Department of Public Health at Otago University that the response and management was exemplary at all stages?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: Yes."