133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
20 January 2022
Helen Wallis
By email: [FYI request #18108 email]
Ref:
H202200120
Tēnā koe Helen
Partial transfer of your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) on 5 January 2021
for:
“1. Please provide the complete section(s) of RNA code which is detected by the RT-PCR
test for Covid-19 and somehow identify the areas where the differences occur between
the variants.
2. Please provide the different sections of code (under those which are tested) for each of
the 3 main variants of concern, alpha, delta and omicron.
3. Please provide a full disclosure explanation of how a positive NAAT RT-PCR test
shows a positive case of Covid-19 after detecting a nominal amount of nucleic acid which
belong to a virus rather than showing that the person is indeed infected with a replicating
virus.
4. There must have be some discussion to decide that an asymptomatic person who
carries genetic material (shown by the RT-PCR test) from what could be either a
replicating virus or a non-replicating virus is a "positive" covid case. Please provide the
documentation for this discussion. Also please provide the documents showing that it isn't
necessary for a Doctor to check the patient for signs of illness to confirm this "positive
case"
5. Please also provide a full disclosure explanation of how an asymptomatic case has
been deemed to be infectious. Quoting a RT-PCR test here is insufficient as it only shows
that genetic material form the searched for nucleic acid is present, not that there is any
further infection. As confirmed by CDC, Dr Fauci and others the NAAT doesn't prove that
the tested person is infectious only that they carry the genetic material that was tested for
by the NAAT”
The Ministry of Health (the Ministry) believes parts 1, 2, 3, and 5 of your request are more
closely connected with the functions of the Institute of Environmental Science and Research
(ESR). For this reason, I have decided to partially transfer the parts indicated above to ESR
under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act. You can expect a response to these parts of your request from
ESR in due course.
Please note, the Ministry will respond to part four of your request as soon as reasonably
practicable.
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.
Nāku noa, nā
Jan Torres
Acting Manger, OIA Services Office of the Director-General
Page 2 of 3
Copy of OIA Request
Helen Wallis <[FYI request #18108 email]>
Wed 5/01/2022 23:39
Dear Ministry of Health,
Please provide the complete section(s) of RNA code which is detected by the RT-PCR test for
Covid-19 and somehow identify the areas where the differences occur between the variants.
Please provide the different sections of code (under those which are tested) for each of the 3
main variants of concern, alpha, delta and omicron.
Please provide a full disclosure explanation of how a positive NAAT RT-PCR test shows a positive
case of Covid-19 after detecting a nominal amount of nucleic acid which belong to a virus rather
than showing that the person is indeed infected with a replicating virus.
There must have be some discussion to decide that an asymptomatic person who carries genetic
material (shown by the RT-PCR test) from what could be either a replicating virus or a non-
replicating virus is a "positive" covid case. Please provide the documentation for this discussion.
Also please provide the documents showing that it isn't necessary for a Doctor to check the patient
for signs of illness to confirm this "positive case"
Please also provide a full disclosure explanation of how an asymptomatic case has been deemed
to be infectious. Quoting a RT-PCR test here is insufficient as it only shows that genetic material
form the searched for nucleic acid is present, not that there is any further infection. As confirmed
by CDC, Dr Fauci and others the NAAT doesn't prove that the tested person is infectious only
that they carry the genetic material that was tested for by the NAAT.
Yours faithfully,
Helen Wallis
Page 3 of 3
