Chris Hipkins isolating after one of his children tests positive for COVID-19

COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins is isolating after one of his children tested positive for COVID. 

It comes after New Zealand recorded 21,015 new cases on Thursday and 845 hospitalisations.

Hipkins revealed he is considered a close contact while discussing the pros and cons of at-home learning in a Health Select Committee briefing. 

"I say this sitting at home today with a child who is now at home after testing positive last night for COVID-19, so I will be at home for the next seven days," he said. 

He's not the first MP to be impacted by Omicron. Earlier in the week National leader Christopher Luxon and MP Simon Bridges tested positive for the virus. 

Police Minister Poto Williams, Attorney-General David Parker and Labour MP Anahila Kanongataá-Suisuiki also tested positive. 

Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi is also in isolation after his family caught the virus. 

It comes after the Government slashed the isolation period for COVID-19 cases and household contacts to a week, down from the previous 10 days. 

Hipkins said on Wednesday the change, coming into effect at 11:59pm on Friday, is necessary because the current 10-day isolation requirement "is having a wider impact on many parts of our lives". 

"There needs to be a balance between effectively controlling the outbreak and the flow-on effect for business and essential goods and services such as transport and food supply," Hipkins said. 

"Our primary objective is to stop the chain of transmission as much as possible to manage the spread of Omicron. Seven days isolation will break the vast majority of potential transmissions while ensuring people can get back to work quicker and therefore reducing the impact on business operations."

It now matches the isolation period for international arrivals.

Household contacts will still need to have a rapid antigen test (RAT) at day three and day seven of their isolation period. If they become symptomatic they should also get a test, and if the result is positive, they are required to be isolated for seven days from that point.

If a person is isolating and still has symptoms after seven days, they are advised to stay home until 24 hours after symptoms resolve.