N95 MASK QUANTITY (& Distribution Details)
Micky Turner made this Official Information request to Chris Hipkins
The request was successful.
From: Micky Turner
Dear Chris Hipkins,
In light of the surging new Covid 19 variants - can you please advise the quantity of N95 masks the government will have in stock every month for the next 12 months?
Can you please also forward the details of how these will be distributed to the public and essential workers in the event of full or partial lockdowns?
- Micky Turner
From: C Hipkins (MIN)
Chris Hipkins
Kia ora
Thank you for taking the time to write to Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for
COVID-19 Response, Minister of Education, Minister for the Public Sector
and Leader of the House. We are receiving a significant amount of
correspondence at the moment and, although your email will be carefully
considered and noted, it is not possible to respond to each individual
email.
For the latest updates on COVID-19, we encourage you to regularly check
the dedicated [1]COVID-19 and [2]Ministry of Health websites regularly.
They will be updated as soon as new information is available.
If your query is in regards to the COVID-19 vaccine, there are substantive
resources about our COVID-19 vaccine planning and our COVID-19 vaccine
strategy on the dedicated COVID-19 website
here: [3]https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellb...
or the Ministry of Health website
here: [4]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise....
Please remember to take care, and be kind. We have beaten COVID-19 before,
and we can do it again.
Ngā mihi,
Office of Hon Chris Hipkins
Minister for COVID-19 Response | Minister of Education | Minister for the
Public Sector | Leader of the House | MP for Remutaka
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From: Lydia Verschaffelt
Kia ora Micky
On behalf of Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister for COVID-19 Response, thank you for your Official Information request.
The information requested appears to be more closely associated with the functions and responsibilities of the Ministry of Health. Accordingly I am transferring your request to the Ministry of Health under section 14(b)(ii) of the Official Information Act 1982. You can expect a response from the Ministry of Health in due course.
You have the right, under section 28 of the Act, to ask the Ombudsman to review this decision to transfer your request for information.
Ngā mihi
Lydia Verschaffelt | Health Private Secretary
Office of Hon Chris Hipkins
Minister for COVID-19 Response | Minister of Education | Minister for the Public Service | Leader of the House
Parliament Buildings, Private Bag 18041, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora
Thank you for your request for official information received on 31 MAY
2021 for:
" In light of the surging new Covid 19 variants - can you please advise
the quantity of N95 masks the government will have in stock every month
for the next 12 months?
Can you please also forward the details of how these will be distributed
to the public and essential workers in the event of full or partial
lockdowns?"
The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202106709.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 29 JUNE 2021, being 20
working days after the day your request was received.
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
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
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References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Micky
Thank you for your request for official information, received on 31 May
2021 requesting:
In light of the surging new Covid 19 variants - can you please advise the
quantity of N95 masks the government will have in stock every month for
the next 12 months?
Can you please also forward the details of how these will be distributed
to the public and essential workers in the event of full or partial
lockdowns?
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 collation is required.
You can now expect a response to your request on, or before, 8 July 2021.
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
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Micky
Please find attached a letter regarding your request for official
information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]
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From: Micky Turner
Dear OIA Requests,
Thank you for your response.
The details show the Ministry of Health is taking reasonable measures to keep frontline staff safe by having adequate supplies of N95 masks on hand and have also pre-ordered quantities which are set to taper out as the vaccine is rolled out.
While there are no specific details about how masks could be rolled out to the public in the event of a hard to control pathogen - there appears to be a reasonable amount of opportunity to increase supply if needed.
We can only hope the relevant departments are working on contingency plans behind the scenes to combat a more lethal pathogen and are developing policies around international safety protocols for gain of function research. A recent audit has suggested this may not be the case. https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/...
Thanks again for your time!
Cheers - Micky
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