133 Molesworth Street
PO Box 5013
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
T+64 4 496 2000
27 February 2023
Al Johnson
By email: [FYI request #21855 email]
Ref:
H2023020563
Tēnā koe Al
Transfer of your request for official information Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) to Manatū Hauora
(the Ministry of Health) on 16 February 2023 for information about mask mandates. You
requested:
“An August 2022 health briefing was summarised as saying:
“Modelling provided after the PHRA suggests that removing mask mandates and
quarantine requirements for household contacts at the same time could increase
infections and hospitalisations by 50-55 percent in the short-term, compared with only a
22-25 percent increase if household quarantine were removed and mask mandates were
maintained.”
Does any information or commentary or discussion exist that shows what was the result of
the removal of mask mandates shortly after this briefing outside of health care facilities -
did it show that infections and hospitalisations rose?
Also for across the 2022 year, what metrics were in use to monitor how mask mandates
were successfully slowing the spread within New Zealand (they were regularly reviewed
prior to being dropped so what was being collected to ensure they were working is my key
query).”
The requested information is also held by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
(DPMC). As such, I am transferring your request to their agency pursuant to section 14(b)(i) of
the Act. You can expect a response from both Manatū Hauora and DPMC 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.
Nāku noa, na
Jan Torres
Manager, OIA Services
Government and Executive Services | Te Pou Whakatere Kāwanatanga
COPY OF OIA REQUEST
From: Al
<[FYI request #21855 email]> Sent: Thursday, 16 February 2023 21:09
To: OIA Requests
<[email address]> Subject: Official Information request - Monitoring, or success metrics, used in mask mandates
Hi everyone,
An August 2022 health briefing was summarised as saying:
“Modelling provided after the PHRA suggests that removing mask mandates and quarantine
requirements for household contacts at the same time could increase infections and
hospitalisations by 50-55 percent in the short-term, compared with only a 22-25 percent
increase if household quarantine were removed and mask mandates were maintained.”
- Does any information or commentary or discussion exist that shows what was the result of the
removal of mask mandates shortly after this briefing outside of health care facilities - did it show
that infections and hospitalisations rose?
- Also for across the 2022 year, what metrics were in use to monitor how mask mandates were
successfully slowing the spread within New Zealand (they were regularly reviewed prior to being
dropped so what was being collected to ensure they were working is my key query).
Thank you for your help,
Al
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