Covid 19 coronavirus: why has the mandatory use of the mask been delayed so long?

Originally Posted by The Spinoff

The masks are coming. New Zealand’s tough and early response to Covid-19 is finally embracing the widespread use of masks outside of confinement. Justin Giovannetti writes about what changed in the halls of parliament to make it happen.

Masks will be mandatory on Auckland’s domestic and transit flights next week, following months of criticism from leading epidemiologists that New Zealand has been avoiding a simple measure to decrease the risk of new outbreaks.

Chris Hipkins, the country’s Covid-19 minister, was avoiding a mask mandate as recently as Thursday afternoon. The government relied on the “goodwill” of people following the suggestions and wearing masks while also diligently scanning the QR codes. Most of the people paid no heed to the suggestion.

Legally, little has stopped Hipkins from requiring masks to be worn and QR codes scanned. The public health law passed by parliament earlier this year gives the government broad powers to restrict or require any behavior in the battle with Covid-19.

Cabinet will also look to make QR code scanning, or some other form of contact tracing, mandatory in the near future. The masks will come first.

The new group of Defense Forces, which now has four cases, five if today’s new “weak positive” turns into a proper case, has caused the minister to act. The country’s most recent case of community transmission Covid-19 is a warning. Dubbed Case D by the Health Ministry, the woman contracted the virus somewhere in the heart of Auckland, probably late last week, from a defense worker sent to a managed isolation facility. Two other people were also infected by the worker.

Transmission to the woman may have occurred in a bar, restaurant, or chance encounter. The woman, who lives alone, has so far not transmitted the virus to anyone in her apartment building, with the possible exception of the close contact neighbor reported today, nor to any employee or customer at the clothing boutique where she worked. She worked for days while she was symptomatic.

This virus has already been found to be transmitted between people in New Zealand’s managed isolation facilities through momentary contact with garbage can lids and elevator buttons.

The uncontrolled broadcast in the center of the country’s largest city is a chilling moment in the Covid-19 response. So far, the virus has not yet spread.

Hipkins, speaking to reporters yesterday, said there were five recent cases of viruses escaping from managed isolation that were contained without a lock. Few have had as much interaction with the public as Case D. Should we consider ourselves very lucky?

“It’s a virus. There is good and bad luck running through all of this,” Hipkins said. “There are no guarantees on anything. The best protection you can think of is that it is still possible for viruses to make their way. That is why constant vigilance is so important.”

Back in May, University of Otago epidemiologist Michael Baker began calling for the use of mass masking in public. In the months since, he has reiterated the call that masks are an essential part of the country’s arsenal to tackle the coronavirus.

“We are probably spending a million dollars a day on tests to detect an outbreak, we have invested a lot in our contact tracing system and that is very good, but the only thing we have not invested in is having masks available as an option. “” he told RNZ in July.

He made the call again on Friday morning. After months of hesitation and rejection, Hipkins announced a few hours later that the government has decided to follow his advice. However, there will be another delay before the skins are mandatory.

On Monday, Hipkins will present a motion to Cabinet. Technically, under the Covid-19 Health Response Act, you don’t need to report to the entire cabinet. However, you need to inform the prime minister, the minister of justice and any other minister who may need some information. It is easier to do when they are in a room. Meetings could be handled through some speed calling from Zoom.

The lack of urgency indicates that health officials probably do not fear uncontrolled transmission in Auckland, said Andrew Geddis, a law professor at the University of Otago. The act itself is designed to allow the minister to act quickly.

One thing Hipkins and the Cabinet will have to decide is the penalties for not wearing a mask.

At the worst end of the spectrum, the law would allow six months in jail or a fine of up to $ 4,000 for someone who intentionally chooses not to wear a mask. That route would require a court to find someone guilty. They could also choose to make it a violation, such as driving without a WOF, punishable by a $ 300 fine on the spot.

“It’s actually very easy for them,” Geddis said. “Under the law, the minister can require people to comply with any specific measure that contributes to preventing the risk of an outbreak or spread of Covid-19.”

Hipkins will face a challenge on Monday. Technically, you are not allowed to do anything under the almighty Covid law. When the minutes were written in winter, all power was in the hands of the Minister of Health. That’s now Andrew Little. Hipkins is the Covid-19 response minister.

There is a loophole in New Zealand’s constitutional law that allows a minister to exercise the powers of another minister. Hipkins’ office confirmed that they plan to use the provision to circumvent the law, as drafted just a few months ago. “It shows how quickly this area is developing,” Geddis said.