Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.

In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. This
means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...

Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
relating to COVID-19.

Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
hear from us soon if that is the case here.

Ngā mihi,

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [3][email address]

 

 

 

 

show quoted sections

References

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1. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]

Kia ora,  

  

Thank you for your request for official information received on 18 May
2022 for: 

  

"1. Patients hospitalised with covid, who are severely ill, can be
hospitalised for more than 28 days.
Q1.1 What was the length of hospital stay (in 7 day brackets) for those
who were hospitalised ( eg 104 in hospital 1-7 days; 23 in hospital 8-14
days etc)
Q1.2 How many people who were in hospital with covid for “more than 28
days” in New Zealand (up to 17 May) died?
Q1.3 In how many of these cases where the person was in hospital over 28
days, was covid considered the primary or contributing cause of death?

2. Re: Who determines cause of death in covid cases, and how is it done
Q2.1 How many people are involved in determining the cause of death of
people who died who had been infected within 28 days (or longer) of a
covid infection?
Q2.2 What are the qualifications and experience in determining causation -
of each of those involved in this process?
Q2.3 Please indicate what method is used for this retrospective assessment
of cause of death: eg medical file review etc
Q.2.4 Why was there such a significant increase in the number of cases
reported as assessed today vs formerly (including a great increase in
numbers where covid was not deemed a primary or contributing cause of
death?)

3. Direction from the Ministry of Health or others in government or
consultants - on the definitions and criteria to be used to include or
exclude Covid as a primary or contributory cause of death
Q3.1 Has the individual or individuals making the assessment of cause of
death received definitions, and/or guidelines from the Ministry of Health
or anyone else on determining the cause of death?
Q3.2 Please provide copies of these definitions and guidelines (with
dates, in the event there have been multiple instructions) which were
provided to the individual or individuals determining the cause of death.
Q3.3 Please provide the name of the government official and department or
consultant that provided this direction on definition and/or cause of
death criteria.

4. Current death and vaccination status data suggest only the vaccinated
have died (which surprised me). The govt seems to often change
definitions.
4.1 What criteria is included in the: “Not fully vaccinated” column.
4.2 Please provide the death numbers for each subset of those in the “not
fully vaccinated” group.
4.3 Have any (and if so how many) unvaccinated people died of covid?

5. Age of children and youth who died
5.1 How old were each of the 3 children who died to date, under the age of
10 (and what was their vaccination status?)
5.2 How old were the 4 youth who died between age 10-19 who died to date)
and what was their vaccination status?)

6. Cause of death should indicate serious organ injury, where present.
Though the cause of the recent hepatitis outbreak in children is unknown -
liver (and other organ) injury (or serious exacerbation of an underling
chronic condition) secondary to covid infection has been reported in young
and older people (It is possible some people had multiple of the following
complications).
It is important to know what organs were affected by people who died; in
order to monitor potential long term consequences (such as diabetes etc)
in those who survive.
6.1 Of all those who died, how many had lung injury which covid likely
caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?
6.2 Of all those who died, how many had cardiovascular injury which covid
likely caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?
6.3 Of all those who died, how many had neurological injury (including but
not limited to stroke) which covid likely caused or significantly
contributed to or exacerbated?
6.4 Of all those who died, how many had a bleeding disorder which covid
likely caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?
6.5 Of all those who died, how many had septicemia or DIC which covid
likely caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?
6.6 Of all those who died, how many had hepatic injury which covid likely
caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?
6.7 Of all those who died, how many were undergoing cancer treatment, but
covid likely caused complications that significantly contributed to death?
6.8 Of all those who died, how many were undergoing renal dialysis due to
chronic kidney disease - but covid likely caused or significantly
contributed to destabilisation and death?
6.9 Of all those who died, how many were on prednisone or major
immunosuppressants for autoimmune related conditions or following
transplants - but covid likely caused or significantly contributed to
destabilisation and death?

7. There has been an extraordinary increase in the number of older people
who died since the start of the phase out of covid controls - during a
period when essential workers were allowed to return to work after very
short quarantine (and in some instances even if the very short quarantine
was not over). In addition, people were previously reported to have died
at home, infected with covid.
This calls to question where people (not just older people) were when they
died.
You can’t reduce preventable deaths without the facts.

In broad terms (eg at home, in hospital, in an aged care facility, in a
chronic care nursing home, in prison etc)
7.1 Please break down where those who died were at the time they died (by
10 year age bands from age 1 to 90+)
7.2 Were those with dementia or in a totally dependent state treated any
differently?
7.3 Did the Ministry of Health or any other official body give guidelines
to hospitals and/or nursing homes or aged care facilities etc as to what
to do with covid patients (and what were the instructions)
7.4a How many staff in nursing homes or aged care were infected?
7.4b How many returned to work within 7 days?
7.4c How many returned to work in less than 7 days?

7.5 Has the government considered building a purpose built large health
facility in each region that can temporarily take in people who are high
risk if they remain at home alone, or in a nursing home or in an aged care
facility - where the risk of spread and death is potentially high?" 

  

The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202206566.  

  

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 16 June 2022, being 20
working days after the day your request was received. 

  

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. If
we are unable to respond to your request within this time frame, we will
notify you of an extension of that time frame. 

  

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to
get in touch. 

Ngā mihi

 

OIA Services Team

 

[1]Ministry of Health information releases

[2]Unite against COVID-19

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Kia ora DE,
Please find attached the partial transfer of your request for
information. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

  

[1]Ministry of Health information releases 

[2]Unite against COVID-19 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Kia ora DE,  

 

Thank you for your request for official information, received on 18 May
2022 requesting information regarding COVID-19 deaths. Please find your
original request attached. 

 

The Ministry of Health has decided to extend the period of time available
to respond to your request under section 15A of the Official Information
Act 1982 (the Act) as further consultation is required. 

 

You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 7 July 2022. 

 

You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to
review my decision to extend the time available to respond to your
request. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

  

[1]Ministry of Health information releases 

[2]Unite against COVID-19 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Kia ora DE,

 

I refer to your official information request dated 18 May, which was
partially transferred to the Ministry of Justice from the Ministry of
Health, for:

 

2. Re: Who determines cause of death in covid cases, and how is it done

Q2.1 How many people are involved in determining the cause of death of
people who died who had been infected within 28 days (or longer) of a
covid infection?

Q2.2 What are the qualifications and experience in determining causation -
of each of those involved in this process?

Q2.3 Please indicate what method is used for this retrospective assessment
of cause of

death: eg medical file review etc

 

Upon further consultation, we have concluded that your questions are more
closely connected with the functions of the Ministry of Health. In these
circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the OIA to transfer your
request. We have therefore transferred your request back to the Ministry
of Health.

 

You will hear further from the Ministry of Health concerning your request.

Should you have any further queries, please direct them to
[1][email address].

Ngā mihi,

   

Ministerial Relations and Services

Strategy, Governance and Finance
DDI: +64 4 918 8800

[2]www.justice.govt.nz

 

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. http://www.justice.govt.nz/

Kia ora DE

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) received by the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) on 18 May 2022 for
information regarding COVID-19 deaths.

 

Information in response to some parts of your request are outlined below:

 

1. Patients hospitalised with covid, who are severely ill, can be
hospitalised for more than 28 days.

Q1.1 What was the length of hospital stay (in 7 day brackets) for those
who were hospitalised ( eg 104 in hospital 1-7 days; 23 in hospital 8-14
days etc)

Q1.2 How many people who were in hospital with covid for “more than 28
days” in New Zealand (up to 17 May) died?

Q1.3 In how many of these cases where the person was in hospital over 28
days, was covid considered the primary or contributing cause of death?

 

The Ministry is planning to update their website in the coming weeks to
include further hospitalisation data. Therefore, this part of your request
is refused under section 18(d) of the Act, as the information requested
will soon be made publicly available.

 

3. Direction from the Ministry of Health or others in government or
consultants - on the definitions and criteria to be used to include or
exclude Covid as a primary or contributory cause of death

Q3.1 Has the individual or individuals making the assessment of cause of
death received definitions, and/or guidelines from the Ministry of Health
or anyone else on determining the cause of death?

 

Links to advice for health practitioners on how to certify cause of death
for anyone dying from or with COVID-19 are posted on the Ministry’s
website here:
[1]www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-health-professionals/recording-covid-19
and here
[2]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/burial-and-cremation-act-1964/completing-death-documents/covid-19-deaths.
The Ministry’s advice reflects the guidance provided by the World Health
Organization (WHO) for certifying cause of death for people who die from,
or with Covid-19 and it has not changed during the pandemic.

 

The Ministry provides more general guidelines on cause of death
certification, based on WHO guidelines, on its website here:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regulation-health-and-disability-system/burial-and-cremation-act-1964/completing-death-documents/medical-certificate-cause-death/completing-medical-certificate-cause-death-form#part%201.

 

Q3.2 Please provide copies of these definitions and guidelines (with
dates, in the event there have been multiple instructions) which were
provided to the individual or individuals determining the cause of death.

As provided above. The guidance and instructions on how to determine cause
of death have not changed during the pandemic.

Q3.3 Please provide the name of the government official and department or
consultant that provided this direction on definition and/or cause of
death criteria.

 

As noted above, the Ministry follows the international guidelines for the
classification of cause of death provided by the WHO. This includes the
WHO guidelines for the certification and classification of Covid-19 as
cause of death found here:
[4]www.who.int/publications/m/item/international-guidelines-for-certification-and-classification-(coding)-of-covid-19-as-cause-of-death.

 

5. Age of children and youth who died

5.1 How old were each of the 3 children who died to date, under the age of
10 (and what was their vaccination status?)

5.2 How old were the 4 youth who died between age 10-19 who died to date)
and what was their vaccination status?)

The Ministry cannot release this level of detail for the data requested in
this part of your request, as the information is too difficult to collate
without the potential of identifying individuals. Therefore, this part of
your request is withheld in full under section 9(2)(a) of the Act, to
protect the privacy of natural persons, including deceased natural
persons. I have considered the countervailing public interest in release
in making this decision and consider that it does not outweigh the need to
withhold at this time.

6. Cause of death should indicate serious organ injury, where present.
Though the cause of the recent hepatitis outbreak in children is unknown -
liver (and other organ) injury (or serious exacerbation of an underling
chronic condition) secondary to covid infection has been reported in young
and older people (It is possible some people had multiple of the following
complications). It is important to know what organs were affected by
people who died; in order to monitor potential long term consequences
(such as diabetes etc) in those who survive.

6.1 Of all those who died, how many had lung injury which covid likely
caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?

6.2 Of all those who died, how many had cardiovascular injury which covid
likely caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?

6.3 Of all those who died, how many had neurological injury (including but
not limited to stroke) which covid likely caused or significantly
contributed to or exacerbated?

6.4 Of all those who died, how many had a bleeding disorder which covid
likely caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?

6.5 Of all those who died, how many had septicemia or DIC which covid
likely caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?

6.6 Of all those who died, how many had hepatic injury which covid likely
caused or significantly contributed to or exacerbated?

6.7 Of all those who died, how many were undergoing cancer treatment, but
covid likely caused complications that significantly contributed to death?

6.8 Of all those who died, how many were undergoing renal dialysis due to
chronic kidney disease - but covid likely caused or significantly
contributed to destabilisation and death?

6.9 Of all those who died, how many were on prednisone or major
immunosuppressants for autoimmune related conditions or following
transplants - but covid likely caused or significantly contributed to
destabilisation and death?

The Ministry does not hold classified cause of death data available from
2020 onwards. Therefore, these parts of your request are refused under
section 18(g)(i), as the information is not held by the Ministry and there
are no grounds for believing connected more closely with the functions
with another agency subject to the Act.

7. There has been an extraordinary increase in the number of older people
who died since the start of the phase out of covid controls - during a
period when essential workers were allowed to return to work after very
short quarantine (and in some instances even if the very short quarantine
was not over). In addition, people were previously reported to have died
at home, infected with covid. This calls to question where people (not
just older people) were when they died. You can’t reduce preventable
deaths without the facts. In broad terms (eg at home, in hospital, in an
aged care facility, in a chronic care nursing home, in prison etc)

7.1 Please break down where those who died were at the time they died (by
10 year age bands from age 1 to 90+)

7.2 Were those with dementia or in a totally dependent state treated any
differently?

7.4a How many staff in nursing homes or aged care were infected?

7.4b How many returned to work within 7 days?

7.4c How many returned to work in less than 7 days?

The Ministry does not hold the information in the way it is requested.
While the Act allows New Zealanders to ask for information from Ministers
and government agencies, there is no requirement for agencies to create
new information, compile information they do not hold or provide or prove
an opinion. As such your request is refused under section 18(g)(i) of the
Act.

The remaining parts of your request will be addressed in due course:

 

2. Re: Who determines cause of death in covid cases, and how is it done
Q2.1 How many people are involved in determining the cause of death of
people who died who had been infected within 28 days (or longer) of a
covid infection?
Q2.2 What are the qualifications and experience in determining causation -
of each of those involved in this process?
Q2.3 Please indicate what method is used for this retrospective assessment
of cause of death: eg medical file review etc
Q.2.4 Why was there such a significant increase in the number of cases
reported as assessed today vs formerly (including a great increase in
numbers where covid was not deemed a primary or contributing cause of
death?)

4. Current death and vaccination status data suggest only the vaccinated
have died (which surprised me). The govt seems to often change
definitions.
4.1 What criteria is included in the: “Not fully vaccinated” column.
4.2 Please provide the death numbers for each subset of those in the “not
fully vaccinated” group.
4.3 Have any (and if so how many) unvaccinated people died of covid?

 

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [5][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.

 

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services Team

[6]www.health.govt.nz

[7]Ministry of Health information releases

[8]Unite against COVID-19

 

 

 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. http://www.health.govt.nz/covid-19-novel...
2. http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regul...
3. http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/regul...
4. http://www.who.int/publications/m/item/i...(coding)-of-covid-19-as-cause-of-death
5. mailto:[email address]
6. http://www.health.govt.nz/
7. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
8. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Kia ora DE Sheridan,

Following the partial response provided to you on 27 July 2022, please
find attached a letter addressing your request in full. 

Under section 28(3) of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request. The Ombudsman may be
contacted by email at: [1][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602. 

Ngā mihi 

  

OIA Services Team 

M[2]inistry of Health information releases 
U[3]nite against COVID-19 

show quoted sections

References

Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/