3. Question No. 3—HealthDr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 3—Health3. Dr SHANE RETI (National—Whangarei) to the Minister of Health: How many people in managed isolation have not had day-three tests since the week of 8 June?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister of Health): Mr Speaker I thought the question was a bit longer than that. No—it's been edited. The vast majority of people want to do the right thing and agree to get tested at day three and at day 12. So far 20065 day three tests have been completed since 8 June. During that same time period 19473 day 12 tests have been completed and there are currently 5204 people in managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ). There are some instances—[Interruption] SPEAKER: Order! The member will resume his seat. I've warned members about that interjection which is a reflection on me and my responsibilities. Mr Goldsmith will withdraw and apologise.Hon Paul Goldsmith: I withdraw and apologise.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: There are some instances where it's not appropriate to test a person with a swab such as young babies who are six months or younger. The number of people leaving managed isolation or quarantine without a day three test has not been collated and reported in that way because before people can leave managed isolation they must return a negative day 12 test. I'm advised that only 15 adults have refused a day 12 test and that means that they can be required to stay up to 28 days in managed isolation.Dr Shane Reti: Is he really telling New Zealanders that the Government cannot count the number of people who entered managed isolation and subtract the number who were tested at day three?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No I'm saying that we don't routinely measure the number of people who haven't had day three tests because it's not the most important consideration when it comes to our public health response. The key question that people should be asking is: Are people being released from managed isolation at risk of taking COVID-19 into the community?" Because they get a day 12 negative test before they are released they are not. With regards to those people who are in managed isolation everybody who's in managed isolation is treated as if they have COVID-19.Dr Shane Reti: Does he agree with reports that thousands of people have not been tested at day three in managed isolation since 8 June?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The numbers simply don't support that claim. Dr Shane Reti: How many people in managed isolation have tested positive at day three and how does that compare to the number who've tested positive at day 12?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I think the number that the member would be most interested in is that of the people who have tested—there's 14 people who have tested positive on the day 12 tests; of those 12 people had a negative day three test only two of them didn't have a day three test. Those were people where they had their day 12 test shortly after we had introduced the mandatory requirements around the mandatory testing regime. Dr Shane Reti: Have the majority of positive coronavirus tests in managed isolation been at day three and not at day 12?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: Yes that would appear to be the case yes.Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Can the member describe for the House the purpose of the day three test from the Government's perspective and a public health perspective relative to the purpose of the day 12 test which is primarily of course to ensure public safety?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The day three test is primarily to ensure the people who have COVID-19 who are in a managed isolation and quarantine facility are getting the support that they need for that. There is very little risk to the public health from a positive day three test because as I've indicated everybody who is in managed isolation and quarantine is treated as if they have COVID-19 until such time as they get a negative day 12 test before they are released into the community. Dr Shane Reti: If the majority of positive tests in managed isolation have been at day three doesn't that justify the importance of compulsory testing at day three?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The importance of compulsory testing at day 12 is to ensure COVID-19 doesn't move out into the community. Day three tests—which as the numbers have indicated the vast majority of people are doing—help us to better serve the needs of the people who are in MIQ.Dr Shane Reti: Does the modelling that the director-general used at a recent media stand-up to justify the current policy settings at the border require compulsory day three testing and if so has the Government made serious border decisions on a modelling assumption that now turns out to be wrong?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I'm not sure I follow the question. Can I get the member to repeat the question?Dr Shane Reti: Does the modelling that the director-general used at a recent media stand-up to justify the current policy settings at the border require compulsory day three testing and if so has the Government made serious border decisions on a modelling assumption that now turns out to be wrong?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: No and I do want to remind the member opposite that it was only three weeks ago he was accusing me and the Government of subjecting people to medical procedures in managed isolation and quarantine that they didn't consent to.Dr Shane Reti: Will he require testing in managed isolation to be compulsory at day three?Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: The current requirement is that it's mandatory at day 12 before somebody is released and I have no intention of changing that because the public health grounds to do so would not be strong enough."