Evidence of Mask Effectiveness for Retail Workers
Chuck Schooner (Account suspended) made this Official Information request to Stuart Nash
The request was partially successful.
From: Chuck Schooner (Account suspended)
Dear Stuart Nash,
On the imminent opening of New Zealand to the balance of the world we want New Zealand to be as hospitable to tourists as possible.
- Please provide any and all documents that show masks are required for hospitality workers as opposed to cafe patrons who clearly don't get the virus in the same setting / atmosphere
- Please provide any and all documentation showing the masks work in retail stores as opposed to these not being required in cafes where
- When NZ opens to the world do we want to have our retail workers looking like peasants / serfs who serve the elite? Oh actually that is how Labour and National treat their voters like peasants
Look forward to a response
Yours faithfully,
Chuck
From: S Nash (MIN)
Stuart Nash
Thank you for contacting Hon Stuart Nash, Minister for Economic and
Regional Development, Minister of Forestry, Minister for Small Business,
Minister of Tourism, and MP for Napier.
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Regards
Hon Stuart Nash LLM, MMgt, MForSc
Minister for Economic and Regional Development
Minister of Forestry
Minister for Small Business
Minister of Tourism
MP for Napier
Private Bag 18 888, Parliament Buildings | Wellington | New Zealand
[2]www.labour.org.nz
Authorised by Hon Stuart Nash, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
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From: S Nash (MIN)
Stuart Nash
Dear Chuck
Reference: OIA22-030
On behalf of Minister Stuart Nash, thank you for your email of 12 May 2022 in which you submitted an Official Information Act request as follows:
“- Please provide any and all documents that show masks are required for hospitality workers as opposed to cafe patrons who clearly don't get the virus in the same setting / atmosphere
- Please provide any and all documentation showing the masks work in retail stores as opposed to these not being required in cafes where”
Minister Nash is considering your request in accordance with the Act, and will respond in due course.
Ngâ mihi
Paula James
Private Secretary (Executive Support) to Hon Stuart Nash
Minister for Economic and Regional Development | Minister of Forestry | Minister for Small Business | Minister of Tourism
Executive Wing | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: Hon Stuart Nash
Dear Chuck
We refer to your Official Information Act (OIA) request of 12 May 2022 to Hon Stuart Nash for the following information:
“Please provide any and all documents that show masks are required for hospitality workers as opposed to cafe patrons who clearly don't get the virus in the same setting / atmosphere
- Please provide any and all documentation showing the masks work in retail stores as opposed to these not being required in cafes where”
Please be advised that we have transferred your request to the Ministry of Health.
The information to which your request relates is not held by us but is believed to be held by and more closely connected with the functions of the Ministry of Health. In these circumstances, we are required by section 14 of the Official Information Act to transfer your request.
You will hear further from the Ministry of Health concerning your request.
Ngâ mihi
Paula James
Private Secretary (Executive Support) to Hon Stuart Nash
Minister for Economic and Regional Development | Minister of Forestry | Minister for Small Business | Minister of Tourism
Executive Wing | Private Bag 18041 | Parliament Buildings | Wellington 6160 | New Zealand
show quoted sections
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Chuck,
Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202206367.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. 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 Team
[2]Ministry of Health information releases
[3]Unite against COVID-19
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2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Chuck,
Thank you for your request for official information received on 16 May
2022 for:
“Please provide any and all documents that show masks are required for
hospitality workers as opposed to cafe patrons who clearly don't get the
virus in the same setting / atmosphere
Please provide any and all documentation showing the masks work in retail
stores as opposed to these not being required in cafes where”
We are contacting you to clarify part of your request.
Can you please advise what information you are seeking in regards to the
second part of your request as we believe it is incomplete. Could you
please further explain what you are asking for?
We look forward to receiving your response.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
[1]Ministry of Health information releases
[2]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: Chuck Schooner (Account suspended)
Dear OIA Requests,
There was recent media out that people weren’t using trains due to masks. We are currently looking at opening the borders to hospitality workers. Why would hospitality workers come to our country when they can go to other countries where they are not gagged and Covid is still in those countries? I want to know
- in cafes, patrons don’t require masks yet staff do - what evidence do you have that says staff are more susceptible to the virus opposed to patrons. What paperwork, health information justifies masking hospo workers as opposed to not masking patrons
- what paperwork, reporting is available that says masks aren’t required in cafes yet they are required in big box retail? More space, ventilation in big box retail yet masks are required
The above makes no sense in terms of risk, We either want to attract people to NZ and not treat them like peasants wearing masks in hospo / retail when the rules make absolutely no common sense. They will look at things and say, these people are stupid why would I go to there country 90% vaxxed and I’m still wearing a mask when I could go to any other country in the world.
Effectively What justifies masks for workers not patrons
And what justifies masks in retail as opposed to no masks for cafes
Yours sincerely,
Chuck Schooner
From: OIA Requests
Thank you for your Official Information Act request. This is
an automatic reply to let you know we received it.
In accordance with the Act, we'll let you know our decision within no more
than 20 working days. If you'd like to calculate the timeframe, you can
use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. This
means we may take some time in responding to your request. The Ministry
regularly updates information about the COVID-19 situation and publishes
OIA responses considered to be of public interest:
[2]https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
Please also refer to the Unite Against Covid-19 website for copies of
papers, minutes, and key advice for the decisions the Government has made
relating to COVID-19.
Sometimes we may need to clarify aspects of a request. You can expect to
hear from us soon if that is the case here.
Ngā mihi,
OIA Services
Government Services
Office of the Director-General
Ministry of Health
E: [3][email address]
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References
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2. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
3. mailto:[email address]
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Chuck,
Thank you for your request for official information. The Ministry's
reference number for your request is: H202207090.
As required under the Official Information Act 1982, the Ministry will
endeavour to respond to your request no later than 20 working days after
the day your request was received. If you'd like to calculate the
timeframe, you can use the Ombudsman's online calculator
here: [1]http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic response, the Ministry is experiencing
significantly higher volumes of queries and requests for information. 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 Team
[2]Ministry of Health information releases
[3]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #19330 email]
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[6]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
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5. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=15517&...
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From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Chuck,
We are following up on the below email to see if you can clarify your
request for information.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
[1]Ministry of Health information releases
[2]Unite against COVID-19
From: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Sent: Thursday, 26 May 2022 1:54 pm
To: [FOI #19330 email]
Cc: OIA Requests <[email address]>
Subject: Clarification of your request for information, ref: H202206367
Kia ora Chuck,
Thank you for your request for official information received on 16 May
2022 for:
“Please provide any and all documents that show masks are required for
hospitality workers as opposed to cafe patrons who clearly don't get the
virus in the same setting / atmosphere
Please provide any and all documentation showing the masks work in retail
stores as opposed to these not being required in cafes where”
We are contacting you to clarify part of your request.
Can you please advise what information you are seeking in regards to the
second part of your request as we believe it is incomplete. Could you
please further explain what you are asking for?
We look forward to receiving your response.
Ngâ mihi
OIA Services Team
[3]Ministry of Health information releases
[4]Unite against COVID-19
show quoted sections
References
Visible links
1. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
2. https://covid19.govt.nz/
3. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
4. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Chuck,
Thank you for your request made under the Official Information Act 1982
(the Act) to the Ministry of Health (the Ministry), on 16 May 2022 for the
following:
o Please provide any and all documents that show masks are required for
hospitality workers as opposed to cafe patrons who clearly don't get
the virus in the same setting / atmosphere
o Please provide any and all documentation showing the masks work in
retail stores as opposed to these not being required in cafes where
On 26 May 2022, you were informed by the Ministry that your request was
too vague, and you were asked to provide further clarification on your
request. On 3 June 2022, the Ministry again requested clarification.
As the Ministry has not received a response from you to date, your request
is refused in full under section 18(f) of the Act as the information
requested cannot be made available without substantial collation or
research. We are unable to respond to your request confidently or
comprehensively. The information requested is also not made with due
particularity set out under section 12 of the Act. Under section 12(2) of
the Act, official information requested shall be specified
with due particularity for the requirements of the Act to apply.
Please note, the Ministry remains willing and engaged on any new and
refined request you may wish to make and remains open to a telephone
conversation with you. To provide you reasonable assistance, the Ministry
has included two links to publicly available information below, which we
believe may be of interest to you:
o · [1]www.health.govt.nz/our-work/nursing/developments-nursing/registered-nurse-prescribing
o · [2]https://mro.massey.ac.nz/bitstream/handl...
The Ombudsman provides guidance on how to make requests at:
[3]www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/resources/making-official-information-requests-guide-requesters.
The Ministry also has information on our website about making requests
at: [4]www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry/contact-us/official-information-act-requests.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[5]Ministry of Health information releases
[6]Unite against COVID-19
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References
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1. http://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/nursi...
2. https://mro.massey.ac.nz/bitstream/handl...
3. http://www.ombudsman.parliament.nz/resou...
4. http://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministry...
5. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
6. https://covid19.govt.nz/
From: OIA Requests
Kia ora Chuck,
Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the
Act) on 29 May 2022 for the following:
in cafes, patrons don’t require masks yet staff do - what evidence do you
have that says staff are more susceptible to the virus opposed to patrons.
What paperwork, health information justifies masking hospo workers as
opposed to not masking patrons
what paperwork, reporting is available that says masks aren’t required in
cafes yet they are required in big box retail? More space, ventilation in
big box retail yet masks are required
The Ministry is unable to provide situational advice, however, the patrons
are only exposed to the individuals that they come in with, and those that
are there/around at the same time. Whereas, in comparison the staff are
exposed to every customer that enters their place of work during their 4
to 10 hour shift.
The evidence indicates that the use of masks/face coverings in the
community provide benefit in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infection. A [1]rapid
review from the Republic of Ireland that found that “the evidence within
this rapid evidence update points towards face mask use in the community
providing a potentially beneficial effect in reducing SARS-CoV-2
infection, alongside a lack of evidence of significant harm associated
with their use.”
This rapid review included the following evidence: A [2]rapid review from
Norway concludes that there is evidence that medical facemasks can protect
people from respiratory infections in community settings. This conclusion
was based on 13 observational studies, the majority of which found a
benefit from the use of masks; A [3]scientific brief from the CDC
concludes that research supports the use of masks in the community to
reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and that the benefit is derived from a
combination of source control and personal protection.
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): [4]www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(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.
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: [5][email address] or by calling 0800
802 602.
Ngā mihi
OIA Services Team
[6]Ministry of Health information releases
[7]Unite against COVID-19
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References
Visible links
1. https://www.hiqa.ie/sites/default/files/...
2. https://www.fhi.no/globalassets/dokument...
3. https://mohgovtnz.sharepoint.com/sites/H...
4. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/...(2019-ncov)-outbreak
5. mailto:[email address]
6. https://www.health.govt.nz/about-ministr...
7. https://covid19.govt.nz/
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