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Kia ora DG,

 

Thank you for your email. The variants of COVID-19 (including the Delta
and Omicron variants) are determined by Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
Detailed information on genome sequencing can be found on the genome
sequencing Q&A on ESR’s website at the following link:
[1]https://www.esr.cri.nz/our-expertise/cov...

 

This is not completed for every case. Until the Delta community outbreak,
WGS was attempted on all positive cases in New Zealand. It is not always
possible to obtain sequence from a case, for example, in historical cases
where there is very little genetic material present.

 

When it is not feasible to sequence all cases, priorities for WGS of cases
are determined depending on the current situation, for example, in a
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prioritised along with cases detected at the border (to monitor for new
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Under section 28(3) of the Act you have the right to ask the Ombudsman to
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Ngâ mihi

 

OIA Services Team

 

[3]Ministry of Health information releases

[4]Unite against COVID-19

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: DG <[5][FOI #18219 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 18 January 2022 08:18
To: OIA Requests <[6][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Testing for Covid19 variants

 

Dear Ministry of Health,

Can you please tell me:

1) What process is used to be able to distinguish between the different
Covid-19 variants for each positive case (EG: Delta, Omicron)?
2) Is this done for every positive case?
3) If not, why not?

Yours faithfully,

DG

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