Open Letter: Provide N95 Masks

Sign the new updated petition here

9 February 2022

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins
Parliament Buildings
Wellington

Tēnā kōrua Ministers,

It is becoming increasingly urgent that N95 masks are available and equitably accessible.

Prevention of infection is the best course of action.

The Government has said that all healthcare and border workers have access to N95 or equivalent masks, however if the Government opens up the border, the general public of Aotearoa New Zealand will need quality masks to save lives, and prevent transmission and the potential health issues that can result after contracting COVID-19.

Along with concern for the capacity of our health system, we are extremely concerned about the wellbeing of people who cannot social distance in their places of habitation, work, or study.

We the under-signed request that N95 or equivalent quality filtration masks are distributed freely to all who need them, with urgent priority given to those with health vulnerabilities, parents of young children, students, prisoners, and public facing workers.

Then, as the N95 mask rollout progresses, priority shifts to providing these quality masks free to the general public, as the Government of the United States is doing.

We call upon you, Ministers and elected representatives, to urgently provide these masks for the wellbeing of our society.

Ngā mihi,

Sign the open letter here,

Or see the initial version here: https://forms.gle/z7iUNdSyBqqY3rPF9