4. Question No. 4—HousingGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 4—Housing4. GINNY ANDERSEN (Labour) to the Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has she made about adding additional layers of assurance to the managed isolation and quarantine system?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): Last week I made two significant announcements that will give additional layers of assurance to our operations at managed isolation and quarantine facilities. Around 500 more New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel will be deployed at our facilities and at the maritime border further bolstering protections against community COVID-19 spread. We are also reducing our reliance on private security guards and we will move to a model of direct employment of security guards with the appropriate training and paying the living wage. I have also announced a roll-out of security enhancements including the use of CCTV and audible alarms at all managed isolation and quarantine facilities as well as a trial of the CovidCard at one facility. These measures are part of the continual improvement in the managed isolation and quarantine system. To date over 42000 people have been through our managed isolation system and only a single case has been identified in a staff member. The system is working but more than ever we need to ensure that these layers of assurance built into our system protect the community from the spread of COVID-19.Ginny Andersen: How does this build on the existing processes in place at managed isolation and quarantine facilities?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Since I took over responsibility for the managed isolation and quarantine facilities on 17 June along with Air Commodore Webb we have visited 13 facilities and introduced a range of measures to improve all the processes at the facilities. In this time we have also doubled our capacity from 16 facilities to 32. On 19 June a rapid review was initiated of the managed isolation and quarantine system. Seventeen actions were identified and we have implemented 17 of these actions with a sub-action around document management—obviously an ongoing task. These include the doubling of NZDF staff at quarantine facilities; an urgent review of the end-to-end protocols and their application at managed isolation and quarantine facilities; oversight of exit testing ensuring no one leaves a facility without a negative COVID-19 test; strict medical-standard cleaning protocols including the use of a Bioquell machine; methodical management of facility capacity and returning New Zealanders to ensure systems remain robust; and dedicated standard operating procedures for each facility. There is no playbook for quarantining tens of thousands of New Zealanders at our border. If we see issues we fix them and the latest improvements are part of a process of continuous improvement and are another example of the active approach this Government is taking at the border.Ginny Andersen: Why is it important to utilise technology inside these facilities?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: We have learned recently just how easily this virus can be spread. In the instance of the maintenance worker at the Rydges hotel transmission is now thought to have most likely occurred via a lift. This is a tricky virus. The technology we announced on Friday adds another layer of security to our systems. These include thermal CCTV around the perimeter with geo-fenced alarming—this technology would create an alarm when people move within a defined area—CCTV in public and exercise areas to monitor distance breaches and CCTV in accommodation corridors to monitor any breaches between rooms; security-controlled desks and rooms dedicated in each facility; audible alarms on fire exits; and electronic access systems to restrict or track movement around a facility. This Government will also be commencing a pilot of the CovidCard with staff and returnees inside managed isolation facilities. Human error is something that we try to minimise but is an ever present risk. But as keeping COVID at the border is a priority for the Government these enhancements are another set of tools in the toolbox to ensure that returnees stay in facilities and limit risks in our community.Ginny Andersen: What feedback has she received from returnees who have been through the managed isolation and quarantine system?Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: I have received a range of feedback from returnees about their time spent in managed isolation. One returning New Zealander spoke positively about how they felt thankful to be a New Zealander when they entered a system that was well organised and had fantastic processes in place. They also spoke positively of staff and how well they were looked after during their stay. Another returning couple spoke about how their stay was made as bearable as possible and how their needs were met swiftly and helpfully. They were complimentary of the staff who cared for them so well. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our hard-working managed isolation and quarantine facilities staff for doing their utmost to protect our communities from COVID-19.