‘Make schools mask up’
Professor says Government is favouring politics over science advice on wearing masks
Aleading health expert claims the Government is favouring politics over science in its continued reluctance to impose a mask mandate in schools — as more than 11,000 Covid-19 cases were announced yesterday, a number officials believe is only half the true rate of daily infections.
University of Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker has again added his voice those of other health officials pleading to follow advice designed to slow the advance of Omicron's BA.5 subvariant that now accounts for almost half of reported cases.
The Government's push to boost accessibility to rapid antigen tests (RATs) and masks is being hindered by improper mask use and underreporting of positive results.
However, Covid-19 Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall has stopped short of reinstating a mask mandate in schools — a decision which has been strongly criticised by Baker.
A total of 11,382 new Covid cases were reported yesterday, alongside 23 virus-related deaths. Of those who had died, one was aged under 10.
Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said yesterday that only half of all cases were believed to have been reported — backed up by recent wastewater results that indicated there was more coronavirus in the community than was known.
During what is being seen as New Zealand's second Omicron wave, Bloomfield expects reported cases to peak at 21,000 a day and hospitalisations to peak at more than 1000.
Yesterday, Verrall and Bloomfield announced a raft of decisions aimed at limiting cases and easing the pressure on the healthcare system.
Chief among of them was offering free medical-grade masks alongside free RAT kits at test collection sites.
People no longer needed to have symptoms or be a household contact to access free RATs.
Surgical-grade masks — N95s and P2s — would also be given to those who qualified as vulnerable.
Access to antiviral drugs, designed to keep Covid-infected people out of hospital, had also been expanded, with about 400,000 more New Zealanders now eligible.
From next week, people over 75 with the virus could be supplied the drugs through their GP.
At yesterday's press conference, Verrall continued the Government's message that a move from the orange traffic light setting to red was not necessary as it would offer only “an incremental benefit”.
Mask-wearing should be like wearing a seatbelt. That's why we still have an order requiring people to wear them in some indoor environments.
Dr Ashley Bloomfield, director general of health
Bloomfield acknowledged mask use across NZ was sub-optimal and urged people to recommit.
“Mask-wearing should be like wearing a seatbelt. That's why we still have an order requiring people to wear them in some indoor environments, and we are encouraging people to wear them in other indoor environments,” he said — including schools.
“Am I confident people will listen and follow through on the messaging? I am. It's important again people recommit,” he said.
“We are not through this yet.”
The Government had provided 10 million child-size masks for Year 4-7 students and up to 30,000 masks a week for all other students and school staff. Verrall said if schools took up the support of free masks in the next term, it would make a difference: “Please use it.”
However, students will not be required to wear them, leading Baker to accuse the Government of putting politics ahead of science.
Baker told the Herald his email inbox was filled with “distraught” parents and teachers on the issue.
“Everyone who contacts me wants [a mandate] immediately.”
Baker claims the Government’s aversion to imposing further mandates on Kiwis had trumped calls from the scientific community.
“It’s almost like we’re denying transmission happens at schools, which is bizarre,” he said.
“I think people will look back in horror at our laissez-faire approach to this.”
University of Auckland microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles agreed, saying there was “clearly no appetite” for expanding mask mandates.
“But the message is really clear: If you are outside of your home, wear a mask. If you aren’t able to see how well a space is ventilated, then mask up. If we all do this, in our workplaces especially, it will make a difference.”