Excess deaths
Ryan Potts made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health did not have the information requested.
From: Ryan Potts
Dear Ministry of Health,
I request the following information under the Official Information Act:
Please disclose any advice provided to the Prime Minister and Cabinet regarding excess deaths from COVID-19? If no such advice has been provided then please explain why.
Yours faithfully,
Ryan Potts
Ministry of Health
Good afternoon Ryan
In relation to to your recent request for information. Could you please
assist our response by clarifying what you are referring to by "Excess
deaths"?
"Please disclose any advice provided to the Prime Minister and Cabinet
regarding excess deaths from COVID-19? If no such advice has been provided
then please explain why"
Kind regards
Tom Roy
Advisor | OIAServices
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [1][email address]
L1 North, Yellow, 113 Molesworth St, Wellington
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Ministry of Health
Kia ora
Thank you for your request for official information received on 9 June
2020.
The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H202004138.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 7 July 2020, being 20
working days after the day your request was received.
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.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]
From: "Ryan Potts" <[FOI #13064 email]>
To: "OIA/LGOIMA requests at Ministry of Health" <[Ministry of Health request email]>
Date: 09/06/2020 11:27 am
Subject: Official Information request - Excess deaths
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Dear Ministry of Health,
I request the following information under the Official Information Act:
Please disclose any advice provided to the Prime Minister and Cabinet
regarding excess deaths from COVID-19? If no such advice has been provided
then please explain why.
Yours faithfully,
Ryan Potts
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From: Ryan Potts
Dear Tom,
Thank you for your email.
For context I refer to this recent Newsroom article in which the term was used: https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/06/08/11...
Essentially I am asking if the Ministry has provided any advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet regarding the number of deaths recorded in 2020 compared to previous years and whether recent events may have led to a higher death rate than might otherwise have been expected.
I see for example that 679 deaths were recorded in the period 26 March to 1 April compared to an average of 541 for 2015-19. Other jurisdictions have investigated the possibility some Covid-19 deaths may be 'hidden' in official statistics (i.e. cases that were not diagnosed) but also the link between lock down and other causes of death.
It would be good to know if these issues were considered by decision-makers and if not why not.
I trust that clarifies the intent of my request. I appreciate your help.
Yours faithfully,
Ryan Potts
Ministry of Health
Kia ora Ryan
Please find attached a letter regarding your request for information.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [email address]
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