Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Minister for COVID-19 Response): Today I announced that the isolation period for COVID-19 cases and their household contacts will reduce from 10 days to seven days. This will come into effect from 11.59 p.m. on Friday. Household contacts will need to have a rapid antigen test if they become symptomatic during their isolation, or if they don't get symptoms, they'll be required to have a negative test at day 6, prior to ending their seven-day isolation period. 