MISSED OPPORTUNITY

WELLINGTON: The Government ‘‘missed an opportunity’’ by dropping the mandate for masks on public transport when it returned most of New Zealand to near normal, a leading epidemiologist says.

University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker said the Cabinet should have moved the country into an ‘‘Alert Level 1.5’’ in case Aucklanders had spread the virus on their travels and to bed in the normalisation of face coverings.

‘‘The principle now is to be tough on virus transmission, but at the same time not tough on people.’’

Outside Auckland, masks are no longer mandatory on public transport — although Air New Zealand is insisting they still be worn on its flights — and there are no limits on gatherings.

The Cabinet will reconsider the city’s alert level on October 5 when it is likely to join the rest of New Zealand in Level 1 on October 7.

Directorgeneral of health Ashley Bloomfield said masks would continue to be part of New Zealand’s response but he was only ‘‘strongly encouraging’’ their use on public transport and planes under Level 1, rather than mandating them.

Prof Baker believed this was a ‘‘missed opportunity’’.

Instead, he would have preferred an ‘‘Alert Level 1.5’’ with limits on ‘‘highrisk indoor activities’’ — such as clubs, concerts and large gym classes — and continued use of masks on public transport planes.

Prof Baker said that should continue until there was total confidence the virus had again been eliminated, which was when there had not been community transmission for 28 days.

Analysis from the Health Ministry said there was a 50% chance the virus would be eliminated by the end of the month.

Continuing mask use would also help the practice bed in to society and continue to be normalised, Prof Baker said.

His preference is for Auckland to move to Level 1.5 as it comes out of Level 2.

‘‘Mask use is lowtech so it doesn’t interfere with most normal activities.

‘‘It’s a new behaviour that needs to be integrated into the alert level system properly.’’

The Government also committed $27 million to the global vaccine Covax Facility which would act as a prepurchase should any candidates be successful.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said it was one of many irons that New Zealand had in the fire to secure a vaccine when one was developed.