Face Covering as preventative measurement
Werner made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health did not have the information requested.
From: Werner
Dear Ministry of Health,
I am aware of a previous OIA request, whereby MoH failed not provide information requested, but rather point to WHO and PubMed.
MoH makes a positive claim on its website which surely requires actual scientific evidence to support public directives and police enforcements, therefore the burden of proof lies with the Ministry of Health itself to substantiate the claim:
"Masks can protect you against the spread of infectious droplets and particles when an infected person speaks, laughs, coughs, sneezes or breathes"
- https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
Previous OIA Request: https://fyi.org.nz/request/16562-to-prov...
To conclude that you are not spreading false and misleading information or stand on the side of pseudoscience, please provide any peer reviewed study that empirically validated the use of face coverings of any kind in order to prevent transmission of any respiratory ailments in any person of any age for the following criteria:
1. Asymptomatic carrier to asymptomatic person
2. Symptomatic carrier to asymptomatic person
2.a. Specificity required for "speaks, laughs, coughs, sneezes or breathes"
Studies that I am NOT requesting:
- In silico (computer simulation / modelling)
- Inductive science (inductive logic can't prove things)
- Consensus (consensus is not science)
Yours faithfully,
Werner
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Werner,
Thank you for your email.
There is no requirement under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act)
for agencies to create new information, provide an opinion or compile
information it does not hold. However, in endeavouring to provide
reasonable assistance, the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) is providing
links to publicly available information.
The Ministry website says:
Masks can protect you against the spread of infectious droplets and
particles when an infected person speaks, laughs, coughs, sneezes or
breathes (read more on [1]how COVID-19 spreads).
To support this statement, the Ministry has updated this page on the
Science news page [2]here:
Other helpful links included but not limited to the below:
o CDC MMWR [3]here
o [4]PubMed Study on mask effect on breathing
o [5]PubMed Study on physiological effects of masks.
The Ministry is satisfied that referring you to our CSU as provided and
sending other links to studies is sufficient to show support of these
studies and their work.
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: [6][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[7]Ministry of Health information releases
[8]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #17155 email]
Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[11]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[12]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
show quoted sections
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by the Ministry of Health's Content and Virus Filtering Gateway
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
3. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/p...
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33003954/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20337987/
6. mailto:[email address]
7. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
8. https://covid19.govt.nz/
9. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
10. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
11. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
12. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
From: Werner
Dear Ministry of Health [MoH]
Your response is appreciated and I thank you for your time.
1. Regarding your first reference: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
1(a). No actual empirical study regarding my request has been provided.
2. Regarding your second reference: https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
2(a). On Page 3, Section 2. Mask-wearing and HEPA filters..... it refers to a CDC study which only demonstrates reduction in spreading droplets and aerosol which only suggest a possible correlation to a likely transmission or possible spread. It further confirms that the link between reducing circulating aerosols and clinical outcomes is not established, but merely suggests the possible and probable likelihood of it being the case.
2(b). Section 2 also is in-silico modelling followed by ad-hoc hypothesis void of any empiricism.
3. Regarding your third reference: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/p...
3(a). This is the same study which your second reference is based on
4. Regarding your fourth reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33003954/
4(a). Citation 1 in the study is in-silico. Citation 2 in the study concluded non-significant reductions in infection rates. Citation 3 in the study is probability and inductive logic that merely suggest efficacy which is admitted to be weak evidence. Citation 4 in the study states that mask recommendation is not based on direct evidence and uses cherry picked data. Citation 5 in the study is based on in-silico modelling. Citation 6 is based on a survey of 81 US participants and 63 UK participants, which can be concluded to correlation rather than causation.
5. Regarding your fifth reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20337987/
5(a). This is the same study cited in your fourth reference.
To conclude, none of the studies you have provided shows empirically validation of face covering preventing asymptomatic to asymptomatic or symptomatic to asymptomatic transmission of any respiratory ailments.
The positive claim on the MoH website: "Masks can protect you against the spread of infectious droplets and particles when an infected person speaks, laughs, coughs, sneezes or breathes" remains an unsubstantiated claim.
Is there any other medical studies that can empirically validate asymptomatic to asymptomatic or symptomatic to asymptomatic transmission of any respiratory ailments?
Yours sincerely,
Werner
Werner left an annotation ()
Thank you Lance for sharing your information and giving pointers. It is noted.
Why assert "masks are well proven to be effective"? Seems frivolous given the topic of this request.
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Werner,
Thank you for your follow up email.
The Ministry is satisfied referring you to our COVID-19 Science Update.
As you have been advised, there is plenty of publicly available
information regarding the efficacy of face masks, for example on
Pubmed: [1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.
Furthermore, there is no requirement under the Official Information Act
for agencies to create new information, provide an opinion or compile
information it does not hold.
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: [2][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[3]Ministry of Health information releases
[4]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by the Ministry of Health's Content and Virus Filtering Gateway
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1.
[10]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
2.
[11]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
3.
[12]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
4.
[13]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
5.
[14]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
6. [15]mailto:[email address]
7. [16]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
8.
[17]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
9.
[18]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
10.
[19]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
11.
[20]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
12.
[21]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #17155 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[22]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
show quoted sections
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by the Ministry of Health's Content and Virus Filtering Gateway
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
References
Visible links
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. https://covid19.govt.nz/
5. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
7. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
8. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
9. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
10. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
11. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
12. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
13. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
14. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
15. mailto:[email
16. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
17. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
18. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
19. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
20. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
21. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
22. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
Werner left an annotation ()
As instructed by MoH to look at pubmed to substantiate their claim by producing scientific validation, I found the opposite.
Study #20 in particular completely negates MoH & Government guidelines
1. A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/article...
2. Preliminary report on surgical mask induced deoxygenation during major surgery.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18500410/
3. The physiological impact of wearing an N95 mask during hemodialysis as a precaution against SARS in patients with end-stage renal disease.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15340662/
4. The Physiological Impact of N95 Masks on Medical Staff.
https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0...
5. N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31479137/
6. A cluster randomized clinical trial comparing fit-tested and non-fit-tested N95 respirators to medical masks to prevent respiratory virus infection in health care workers.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21477136/
7. Cluster randomized controlled trial to examine medical mask use as source control for people with respiratory illness.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28039289/
8. The use of masks and respirators to prevent transmission of influenza: a systematic review of the scientific evidence.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22188875/
9. Evaluating the efficacy of cloth facemasks in reducing particulate matter exposure.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27531371/
10. Effects of Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) on N95 Respirator Filtration Performance and Structural Integrity.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25806411/
11. Evaluation of N95 respirator use with a surgical mask cover: effects on breathing resistance and inhaled carbon dioxide.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23108786/
12. Facemasks for the prevention of infection in healthcare and community settings.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25858901/
13. History of surgical face masks.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5333967/
14. Evaluating the efficacy of cloth facemasks in reducing particulate matter exposure.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27531371/
15. Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-0...
16. Use of surgical face masks to reduce the incidence of the common cold among health care workers in Japan: a randomized controlled trial.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19216002/
17. Effectiveness of N95 respirators versus surgical masks in protecting health care workers from acute respiratory.
https://www.cmaj.ca/content/188/8/567/
18. N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fu...
19. Effectiveness of Masks and Respirators Against Respiratory Infections in Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/65/...
20. Study showing that they FAILED TO INFECT EVEN ONE PERSON out of 455 people when exposed to asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32513410/
21. "We know that wearing a mask outside health care facilities OFFERS LITTLE, IF ANY, PROTECTION from infection."
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NE...
22. "Preliminary report on surgical MASK INDUCED DEOXYGENATION during major surgery"
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18500410/
23. "There is some evidence to support the wearing of masks or respirators during illness to protect others, and public health emphasis on mask wearing during illness may help to reduce influenza virus transmission. There are fewer data to support the use of masks or respirators to prevent becoming infected."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20092668/
24. "**NONE** of the studies established a conclusive relationship between mask/respirator use and protection against influenza infection."
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22188875/
25. "Face masks should not be worn by healthy individuals to protect themselves from acquiring respiratory infection because there is no evidence to suggest that face masks worn by healthy individuals are effective in preventing people from becoming ill."
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fu...
26. A May 2020 meta-study on pandemic influenza published by the US CDC found that face masks had no effect, neither as personal protective equipment nor as a source control.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/5/1...
27. An April 2020 Cochrane review (preprint) found that face masks in the general population or health care workers didn’t reduce influenza-like illness (ILI) cases.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/...
28. "evidence is not sufficiently strong to support widespread use of facemasks"
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/...
29. Japanese researchers found that cloth masks "offer zero protection against coronavirus"
http://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/135...
30. The recommendation to wear surgical masks to supplement other public health measures did not reduce the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate among wearers
https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/...
31. Danish RCT study
https://swprs.org/face-masks-evidence/
32. Masks increase incidence of bacterial lung infestation (see above, masks were worn with ubiquity in 1918), promotes metastasis in advanced stage cancer patients.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/long-term-...
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence
Offensive? Unsuitable?
Requests for personal information and vexatious requests are not considered valid requests for Official Information (read more).
If you believe this request is not suitable, you can report it for attention by the site administrators
Report this request
Lance Watson left an annotation ()
What's being asked for here is original information, it's not asking for "official information". An OIA is not an opportunity to ask agencies to go "prove" any "positive claims" they make.
It's an opportunity to ask for information that already exists.
These also expect you to do your own research on whatever is already publicly available.
So I did a quick Google search of "nz legal requirement to wear a mask", and the first page showed that masks are required by the "COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order 2020" section 27.
That means it's the government's decision, not MoH's. However, you can probably guess that MoH provided advice to the government.
So there's your real OIA.
1. Did the Ministry of Health provide advice to the Government in relation to section 27 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order 2020.
2. If yes, please provide a copy of any and all advice provided to the Government in relation to this.
To be clear, masks are well proven to be effective, and previous OIAs have rightly been referred to WHO research. There's a tonne out there already publicly available, you don't need an OIA for that, nor is that what an OIA is for.
Link to this