6. Question No. 6—HealthHon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of HealthQuestion No. 6—Health6. Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (National) to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his answer in oral question 10 yesterday regarding those in the mosh pit at the Tool concert on 28 February that Those people who were in that situation have been identified as casual contacts"?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK (Minister of Health): Yes because that is the advice of the public health experts—the doctors and scientists who understand the science of communicable disease transmission.Hon Michael Woodhouse: What is the definition of a "close contact"?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: A close contact is someone who is within about a metre and a half for more than 15 minutes.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Given that answer does he really believe patrons in the mosh pit and close to the affected patron were considered "casual contacts" given the concert lasted several hours?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm not going to second-guess the clinical judgment of scientific experts.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he ever been in a mosh pit?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I'm not clear how that really is relevant given that we're talking about clinical expert advice.SPEAKER: Yeah I was a bit slow to get on my feet. I can't imagine it being within the ministerial responsibility of the Minister of Health to be in a mosh pit. [Interruption] We've had a question and answer go on to another one.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Has he seen reports that mosh pits are hot sweaty close contact situations that can last for hours and in an upcoming event will go all night? [Interruption]SPEAKER: Order! Order! Settle—settle. No the member will—Rt Hon Winston Peters: Supplementary question?SPEAKER: No no no. We don't want any further development—Hon Member: Yes you do.SPEAKER: I certainly do not. I think members need to ignore the double entendre and we'll have the question answered.Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I think what's important here is actually not sensationalising the situation but listening to the public health experts. I have seen language used by the Opposition in that regard. I would prefer that we focused on what the scientists and the doctors are saying.Hon Michael Woodhouse: Can he confirm reports that a Northland man who attended the concert is now sick and being tested for COVID-19; and if so has this caused him to revisit his assumption about whether concert attendees were casual contacts?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: I have seen reports of a couple who have done exactly what public health experts would suggest they do. In that case there was a notification put out about the Tool concert precisely so that anybody who was there with concerns would take the appropriate action and self-monitor. This couple self-isolated if I've read the information correctly. They then contacted Healthline then they got tested and I want to thank them for being good examples of what a good response to public health information looks like.Hon Michael Woodhouse: What advice would he give to people considering attending events like the Pasifika Festival or the Christchurch memorial this weekend in light of the COVID-19 outbreak?Hon Dr DAVID CLARK: No one in the world can give any absolute guarantees in the current environment but I can remind the member that we've only had five confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand. There is no evidence of a community transmission outside of family members in New Zealand but of course we are constantly reviewing the situation based on the advice of scientists doctors and experts and I'll be expecting further advice on this today."