Health New Zealand: Face Mask Distribution Primary Care

Kia ora,

The Director General of Health has requested that medical masks be distributed, with every RAT order to all members of the public who have requested RATs.

With regards to General Practices, this would include patients that have been supplied RATs for their household contacts, after having a supervised RAT conducted by their healthcare practitioner that was positive for COVID-19. We are therefore seeking your co-operation, where possible, to assist with the with this initiative. We do appreciate there may be some constraints at general practices due to lack of storage space, however if the face mask distribution is possible your support would be greatly appreciated. These masks can also be distributed to any of your patients that fall within the vulnerable population groups during consultations.

Access has been granted to the HCL portal, to facilitate easy ordering of medical masks using the ‘Masks for Vulnerable’ designation. A note has been added to the portal to this effect. Any issues accessing or using the portal should contact the COVID Supply Team at covid.healthsupplychain@health.govt.nz . 

It has been suggested that one box of 50 masks should be provided to every household, depending on size (we advise against repackaging masks from their boxes). The Ministry of Health also has some posters available on its website including Facemask do’s and don’ts and how to use a facemask safely that may be helpful to provide to those who are unsure how to use a mask correctly.

Collection sites, along with Māori and Pacific Distribution Providers are also handing out packs of medical masks with RAT kits throughout the Country.

Feel free to get in touch with the COVID-19 testing team at COVID-19testing@health.govt.nz if there are any queries that you may have.

Ngā mihi

Vanessa Coull (she/her)

Principal Adviser

COVID-19 Testing Operations

waea pūkoro: +64 21 229 7050 | īmēra: vanessa.coull@health.govt.nz

133 Molesworth Street, Wellington