NZ Govt Proposes Ending Mask Mandates
An email sent to disability support providers by the Ministry of Disabled People this week asked for feedback within 24 hours on a proposal to ‘significantly narrow’ where masks had to be worn.
Tuesday 13 September 2022 | 16:02
Disability support providers are concerned about the impact of the proposed changes. Photo: RNZ Pacific
The New Zealand Government has proposed scrapping mask mandates in all but the most high-risk health settings, the Otago Daily Times revealed.
Disability support providers are concerned about the impact of the proposed changes, and that rushed consultation could lead to the voices of disabled people not being properly heard.
An email sent to disability support providers by the Ministry of Disabled People this week asked for feedback within 24 hours on a proposal to ‘significantly narrow’ where masks had to be worn.
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The requirement for visitors to wear a mask would only extend to primary care, urgent care, hospitals, residential aged care and disability-related residential care.
Other health services such as dentists, physiotherapists, optometrists, audiologists, counselling, home-based care and clinical psychologists would become exempt.
There would continue to be no legal requirement for mask use for health-care workers, or patients, in all health service settings.
It was proposed mandates would remain in place for all people in publicly accessible areas of pharmacies.
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