Kia ora,

 

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

 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. We
will endeavour to acknowledge your request as soon as possible. Further
information about COVID-19 can be found on our
website: [1]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

 

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: [2]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/

If you have any questions while we're processing your request, please let
us know via [3][email address]

 

Ngā mihi  

OIA Services Team  

   

[4]Ministry of Health information releases  

[5]Unite against COVID-19 

 

 

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2. http://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&a...
3. mailto:[email address]
4. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
5. https://covid19.govt.nz/

Kia ora Garrick,

 

Thank you for your request for official information received on 21
November 2021 for:

 

"I reviewed your data sheet and there are clearly CT values over 40, why?

The most recent csv file also contains details of vaccine administered so 
are you now saying that vaccine status is collected at time of test? Your 
reply above states it is not.”

 

On Monday 22 November you clarfied your request as being related to the
following data sheet: CT Value with vax status 1.csv.xls

 

A secondary request for official information was received on 29 November
2021 for:

 

“Please provide a copy of the signed and dated Royal Ascent by the
Governor-General to the Covid19 Vaccinations Bill. I'm sure it falls under
the guidance of your Ministry as a medical intervention.”

 

The Ministry of Health has consolidated these requests under reference
number: H202116864.

 

As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 December 2021, being
20 working days after the day your first request was clarified.

 

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.

 

Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

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Kia ora Garrick,

 

Thank you for your request on 22 November 2021 requesting:

 

Please provide a copy of the signed and dated Royal Ascent by the
Governor-General to the Covid19 Vaccinations Bill. I'm sure it falls under
the guidance of your Ministry as a medical intervention.

 

The Ministry does not hold any information relating to this part of your
request; however, I have been advised that this part of your request is
held by the Office of the Clerk. For this reason, the Ministry of Health
has decided to transfer this part of your request to the Office of the
Clerk under section 14(b)(i) of the Act. You can expect a response from
the Office of the Clerk in due course.

 

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: [email address] or by calling 0800 802
602.

 

Ngā mihi 

 

OIA Services

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [1][email address]

 

 

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Kia ora Garrick,

 

Thank you for your email of 22 November 2021 requesting information
regarding COVID-19. Your requests have been consolidated under section
18(A) of the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act). I will respond to
each part of your request in turn:

 

I reviewed your data sheet and there are clearly CT values over 40, why?

 

A high CT value indicates that there is a lower viral load. Therefore,
more reaction cycles are needed to amplify the genetic material.

 

Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 can be undertaken on a number of testing
platforms. Examples of platforms used in New Zealand include Abbott, BD
Max, Panther, Perkin-Elmer, Aptima and Gene Expert. Some platforms do not
report a CT value.

CT values will vary depending on the testing platform used.  CT values for
samples tested using the Abbott platform will generally be lower, than CT
values reported from other platforms.  This does not indicate there is a
higher viral load.

 

The call of a weak or very weak signal is made and reported by the
clinical microbiologist and it would depend on various factors, such as
how many genes per assay had detectable amplicon and what the
interpretation criteria from the manufacturer is etc. For instance, if you
have an assay where only one of two gene targets are detected you will
repeat the test on another assay for confirmation. If that assay also has
only one gene out or two or three detected, then the Clinical
microbiologist many times will call it a confirmed very weak positive
based on the fact that at least two gene targets were detectable on that
sample albeit with very weak signals.

The most recent csv file also contains details of vaccine administered so
are you now saying that vaccine status is collected at time of test? Your
reply above states it is not.

 

Vaccine status is not collected at the time of test, this was collated as
part of a specific OIA request.

Please provide a copy of the signed and dated Royal Ascent (sic) by the
Governor-General to the Covid19 Vaccinations Bill. I'm sure it falls under
the guidance of your Ministry as a medical intervention.
This part of your request was transferred to the Office of the Clerk on 15
December 2021. You can expect a response from the Office of the Clerk in
due course.

 

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

Government Services

Office of the Director-General

Ministry of Health

E: [2][email address]

 

 

 

 

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References

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2. mailto:[email address]