Dear Mr Parker

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry).

The information pertaining to your request is not readily available. It
would require an extensive and substantial amount of manual research and
collation, at a time the Ministry is responding to a global pandemic.
Unfortunately, your request for this information is refused under section
18(f) of the Act at this time.  

The Ministry, along with many other agencies, have diverted significant
resources to support the Government's response to COVID-19. This is a
fast-evolving situation and the Ministry must continue to respond at pace
to this global pandemic.

The Government is committed to the COVID-19 response, including keeping
the New Zealand public well informed.

This is a fast-evolving global situation and this office, along with many
other agencies, have diverted significant resources to support the
response to COVID-19.

The Ministry knows there is significant public interest in COVID-19 and is
responding to the substantial increase in demand for information from
interested or concerned members of the public.

We are working hard to ensure the New Zealand public is fully informed
about the work being done to respond to COVID-19. The Ministry is
committed to transparency and intends to make official information
publicly available as soon as possible.

This includes key advice papers to Ministers, situational reports and will
cover your request. As such your request is refused in accordance with
section 18(d) of the Act, as the information will soon be publicly
available.  

You may be interested to know the information will be published as soon as
possible on the Ministry’s ‘Information Releases’ page found here:
[1]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr....

The Ministry routinely publishes the latest on the Government’s response
on the COVID-19 section of the Ministry’s website:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise....

Under section 28 of the Act, you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
review any decisions made under this request.

Thank you for taking the time to write to the Ministry.

OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]

From:        "Mr Parker" <[FYI request #12444 email]>
To:        "OIA/LGOIMA requests at Ministry of Health"
<[Ministry of Health request email]>,
Date:        14/03/2020 09:23 a.m.
Subject:        Official Information request - Covid-19 testing

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Dear Ministry of Health,

Please provide the follwing information;
- Total number of tests undertaken by the MoH to detect Covid-19, broken
down by day.
- The guidelines given to MoH staff for when testing is to be undertaken
on a patient.
- Whether the MoH is required to undertake testing for Covid-19 when
requested to do so by a patient.
- Any advice or guidance to MoH staff, for example, a memorandum given by
senior management to all staff, about the disclosure of depersonalised
Covid-19 patient information to the public and media.

Yours faithfully,

Mr Parker

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This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.

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[FYI request #12444 email]

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References

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1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
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