However, Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield told the New Zealand Herald today it had taken another look at the evidence and masks would not be made compulsory at alert level 2.
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Prof Michael Baker said there was enough evidence to suggest people wearing masks in public places helped stopped the spread of the virus.
Masks could stop the spread of droplets which contained Covid-19, particularly in areas like public transport and retail spaces, both of which would become busier as New Zealand moved down alert levels.
“I think that is when mass masking has a really important role."
New Zealand could look to Asian countries, including Taiwan, which had used masks as part of successful efforts to contain the virus.
Dr Bloomfield said in higher-risk environments, such as public transport, people may wish to wear a mask, but they will not be compelled to.
"We've just had another look at the evidence. People may wish to use a mask. If they know how to use it properly, that's fine, but at this point we won't be insisting on masking."
He said it was common for people in South East Asia to wear masks in public, but that was because they had a cold and were trying to prevent germs from spreading.
"One of our key public health principles is: don't go out if you've got a cold, don't go to work, don't send children to school if they have a respiratory infection."
A Ministry of Health spokeswoman said it was closely following the evidence on mass masking, but at present did not support it.
"The ministry is watching very closely advice from the WHO and CDC around whether or not people should wear face masks in public to limit spread of the virus from people who are infected but not showing symptoms.
"The best current advice remains that basic hygiene measures such as frequent hand-washing, physical distancing and sneeze and cough etiquette are the mainstay of our defence against COVID-19.
There were ways in which wearing a mask could be helpful and also ways in which it could be harmful.
"In many countries, individuals who are unwell often wear a mask when they go out. There is evidence that can be good practice - particularly for protecting others.
"However, there is also evidence that wearing a mask can do harm such as when it leads to people touching their face more often due to discomfort.
"This can increase the risk of contamination from the hand.
The Ministry would continue to follow the latest evidence on the benefits and update the public if the situation changed.
With NZ Herald
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Comments
The evidence from overseas states that masks are ineffective and can increase chances of contracting Covid 19. The virus can also be contracted via the eyes, so should we not wear protective glasses?
If you were cynical you might think promoters of masks have shares in a manufacturing company.
@GIR, Citations please? The function of a mask is not to prevent the wearer from contracting an illness, but to reduce the likelihood that the wearer will unwittingly spread it to others. Symptoms vary dramatically between individuals. An individual who is infected with only mild symptoms might be on a bus, in an airport, or a shopping centre. So in that type of environment, should masks not be encouraged?
I've just been to Big Fresh at Roslyn. My wife and I were the only customers wearing masks and not all the staff were wearing masks. Getting kiwis to wear masks even for their own or their vulnerable families sake just isn't going to happen. They're too stupid! It can't happen to them! UNTIL IT DOES.
Einstein said "only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity"
Perhaps Prof Baker could provide peer reviewed evidence masks are effective. Even if they are in laboratory conditions would they be in general use? People finger them, wear them under their chin and generally do not know how to use them. They will simply give a false sense of security, which is the last thing we need.
The main benefit of member of the public wearing a mask is reducing the chance of transmitting it to someone else if they have it. So, it fits well with the general message about the importance of helping each other and not being a link in the chain of transmission. It would also send a message about the importance of not letting our guard down. I think Ashley Bloom has done a stellar job, but I think he's wrong on this point. Where is the contact tracing app?
@. the function of a mask is NOT to prevent an infected wearer from spreading the virus. Many of these masks even have exhalation valves releasing unfiltered air, including N95 variants that are apparently the only mask known to filter covid-19 even though proof of that is impossible to find. Viruses are known to easily exit out from within face masks, including surgical variants. Many studies have replicated this result. You are perpetuating a myth.
E.g. "both surgical and cotton masks seem to be ineffective in preventing the dissemination of SARS–CoV-2 from the coughs of patients with COVID-19 to the environment and external mask surface." From AIM "Effectiveness of Surgical and Cotton Masks in Blocking SARS–CoV-2: A Controlled Comparison in 4 Patients"
I agree with David Thu, 07/05/2020 - 10:35am #
Thanks David!