Tēnā koe, 

 

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Ngā mihi

 

Te Whatu Ora, Health NZ.

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Tēnā koe,
 
Thank you for your email on 12 December 2023, asking for the
following information under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act): 
 
Thank your for your OIA response HNZ00031073 relating to Covid deaths.

Are you referring in this answer to Covid deaths in the first wave of
Covid (delta variant) only, or to deaths in the first and second waves
(delta and omicron)?  Are these categories of death what you use now?

In response to my question: "What is the difference between "Covid-19 as
underlying" and "Covid-19 as contributory"?

You said regarding the category "underlying cause of death":
"An underlying cause of death is defined as the disease or condition that
initiated the train of events leading directly to death".

With Covid, what are the "trains of events" that lead to death? (eg cough,
shortness of breath, etc).  In other words, by what physical mechanisms
does Covid cause death?
What are the hospital treatments for people with Covid "as an underlying
cause", that is, presumably, when Covid is their main or only illness?

Have hospital treatments improved for Covid?  What things work and what
don't?  Have any lessons been learned regarding treatment?  Is keeping
warm important, since Covid is a type of cold or flu?

You said regarding "contributory cause of death":
"A contributory cause of death is any cause of death that is neither the
immediate, intervening, originating antecedent nor underlying cause; hence
there are other significant conditions that contributed to the fatal
outcome, but were not related to the disease or condition directly causing
death."

Please can you outline the "immediate, intervening, originating antecedent
and underlying" or direct causes of death for people listed as having
Covid as contributory to their deaths.
That is, what are or were their main causes of death, eg cancer, heart
conditions, stroke, aneurysm, collapse and so on? 

What percentage of people die with Covid as "underlying" and what
percentage die with Covid as "contributory?
 
 
Health NZ needs extra time 
The Act requires that we advise you of our decision on your request no
later than 20 working days after the day we received your request.
Unfortunately, it will not be possible to meet that time limit and we are
therefore writing to notify you of an extension of the time to make our
decision, to 29 February 2024. 
 
This extension is required because the research and consultations
necessary to make a decision on your request are such that a proper
response cannot reasonably be made within the original time limit.  
 
How to get in touch
If you have any questions, you can contact us at [1][Health New Zealand request email].

If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
 
 
Ngā mihi nui

Giana
Government Services

 
Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand 
TeWhatuOra.govt.nz 

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Kia ora,
 
Thank you for your request for information, I apologise for the delay
in providing our response. Please find attached our response to your
request.
 
If you have any questions, please get in touch at
[1][Health New Zealand request email].
 
If you are not happy with this response, you have the right to make a
complaint to the Ombudsman. Information about how to do this is available
at [2]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or by phoning 0800 802 602.
 
Ngā mihi,
 
Giana
Government Services
[3][Health New Zealand request email]  
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
 

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If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender
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References

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2. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
3. mailto:[email address]
mailto:[Health New Zealand request email]

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