Thank you for contacting WorkSafe New Zealand. This email is to confirm
that we have received your correspondence.

If your correspondence relates to an Official Information Act request, you
can check the maximum time limit within which WorkSafe must respond here:
[1]Ombudsman’s OIA Response Calculator

 

If we need to clarify, or transfer your request, or extend the timeframe
for response, we will contact you shortly.

If you need to report a notifiable event you can do so on our 0800 030 040
number at any time. Other enquiries can be made from 8.30am – 5pm Monday
to Friday.

 

Kind regards

 

Ministerial Services – WorkSafe New Zealand

National Office, Level 6, 86 Customhouse Quay, PO Box 165, Wellington 6140

E  [2][email address]

P  (04) 897 7699

W   [3]www.worksafe.govt.nz

 

[4]http://worksafe/how/PublishingImages/Wor...

 

[5]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

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1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. mailto:[email address]
3. http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/
5. http://www.govt.nz/

 

Tēnā koe Will

 

Thank you for your email of 29 August 2021 requesting the following
information:

 

Please provide the evidence/studies and efficacy with wearing any type of
masks to prevent/reduce the spread of covid19 and any other respiratory
illness and the risk factors

 

This email is to notify you that WorkSafe New Zealand is transferring your
request to the Ministry of Health (MOH) in accordance with section 14 of
the Official Information Act (the Act) 1982.

 

This transfer is occurring because the information you requested is
believed by WorkSafe to be more closely connected with the functions of
MOH.  

 

You have the right under section 28(3) of the Act to seek an investigation
and review by the Ombudsman of my decision to transfer your request. The
relevant details can be found at: [1]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. 

 

Further correspondence on this request will therefore come to you from
MOH. Please note that the time limit for responding will be 20 working
days from when MOH receives this transfer from us.

 

Nāku noa, nā

 

Ministerial Services

86 Customhouse Quay

W    [2]worksafe.govt.nz

 

[3]facebook-grey  [4]twitter-grey  [5]linkedin-grey  [6]instagram-grey

[7]WSNZ_2769-Maori-email-sign-off-with-twitter-v1-2

 

[8]www.govt.nz - your guide to finding and using New Zealand government
services

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
2. http://www.worksafe.govt.nz/
3. https://www.facebook.com/nzworksafe
4. https://twitter.com/WorkSafeNZ
5. https://www.linkedin.com/company/worksaf...
6. https://www.instagram.com/worksafe_nz/
8. http://www.govt.nz/

Kia ora Will,

 

Your query was transferred from Worksafe to the Ministry of Health for a
response. You requested:

 

Please provide the the evidence/studies and efficacy with wearing any type
of masks to prevent/reduce the spread of covid19 and any other respiratory
illness and the risk factors

 

Please note the Ministry of Health does not conduct scientific research or
studies. Please refer to online scientific studies for further
information: [1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.  

 

The Ministry constantly reviews international studies and evidence
on mask wearing in the community setting. Our current advice aligns with
that of the World Health Organization
(WHO): [2]https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/...(2019-ncov)-outbreak. 

 

As part of reviewing international evidence, the Ministry considers other
advice from international organisations including Centres for Disease
Control and Prevention, Public Health England, the European Centre for
Disease Control and Prevention, Australian jurisdictions and a range of
scientific and medical journals.   

 

The information is collated through Ministry specialist technical advisory
groups whose membership include a variety of expert professions such as
infection prevention and control, public health, infectious diseases,
microbiology and primary care. When reviewing evidence, we ensure it is
applicable to the current New Zealand situation and can be applied in our
context.  

 

Please refer to the below previously released responses regarding masks: 

·       
[3]www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/information-release/h202006250_20_oct_2020.pdf. 

·       
[4]www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/information-release/h202008732_15_dec_2020_0.pdf. 

Some publicly available studies you may be interested in can be found
here:

o [5]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/....
o [6]https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/p...
o [7]https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/p...
o [8]https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...

The Ministry also regularly updates the Science News page for up to
date information regarding COVID-19 and the
Vaccine: [9]https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...

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: [10][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.  

 

Ngā mihi  

OIA Services Team  

   

[11]Ministry of Health information releases  

[12]Unite against COVID-19 

 

 

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References

Visible links
1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
2. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/...(2019-ncov)-outbreak
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
4. http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/d...
5. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
6. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/p...
7. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/p...
8. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...
9. https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/dise...
10. mailto:[email address]
11. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
12. https://covid19.govt.nz/