Face masks Ngā ārai kanohi

Wearing a face mask helps prevent the spread of COVID-19 in 2 ways:

• they reduce the number of virus particles someone with a respiratory illness can spread
• they prevent you from inhaling respiratory virus particles.

Face masks protect yourself and others

Wearing a face mask also helps protect others around you, especially people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.

This includes older people, people with compromised immunity and disabled people.

The best protection is when everyone wears a face mask.

Different types of face masks provide different levels of protection: 

• medical masks are a suitable choice for most people when worn correctly
• P2/N95 masks can offer extra protection against breathing in viruses — when worn correctly these masks will best protect people who have a higher risk of getting very sick from respiratory illnesses. 

To protect everyone, you should wear a face mask that best fits you, suits your needs, and is comfortable to wear. A mask that is not worn correctly will be ineffective.

It is recommended you wear a face mask when visiting the following healthcare service providers:

• hospitals — including outpatient services
• hospices
• residential care facilities for older people and disabled people
• doctors' clinics
• community and iwi health providers
• pharmacies — excluding pharmacies inside supermarkets
• urgent care services, such as after-hours clinics
• ambulance services
• disability support services
• diagnostic services such as blood testing or radiology services
• dentists and oral health services
• other allied health services such as optometrists, physiotherapists, or chiropractors.

When visiting these healthcare service providers and others, such as psychotherapy, counselling, mental health and addiction services, be aware that you may be asked to wear a face mask to protect those at higher risk — respect and follow the facility's policy on mask wearing.

Healthcare providers may:

• ask you to wear a mask in particular situations or locations within a healthcare facility to protect people at higher risk of getting very sick, for example patients receiving care in an intensive care unit or emergency department of a hospital
• continue to require all staff or visitors to wear masks within their facility
• require mask wearing to comply with Health and Safety obligations.

People at higher risk

People at higher risk of getting very sick include:

• older people and kaumātua
• babies
• people living in aged residential care facilities
• unwell or sick patients in hospital
• people with other health conditions
• disabled people.

It is especially important to wear a face mask when visiting these people.

If you have symptoms of a respiratory illness and need to visit a healthcare provider to get medical care for yourself, wearing a well-fitting face mask can stop you spreading infectious particles to others. This protects those around you and helps to reduce their risk of being infected.

If you have COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, it is recommended you isolate for at least 5 days, even if you only have mild symptoms. 

As some people are infectious for up to 10 days, after leaving your 5 days of recommended isolation, it is also recommended you wear a face mask if you:

• need to visit a healthcare facility or an aged residential care facility
• have contact with anyone at risk of getting seriously unwell with COVID-19. 

Health and aged residential care facilities may continue to require all staff and visitors to wear masks, even if they have not had COVID-19 cases recently.

If you are visiting someone with COVID-19, you need to be aware of the risk to yourself. You should wear a well-fitting face mask and follow the healthcare facility's visitor policy. 

There are times when you should avoid visiting patients or residents of a health or aged residential care facility, such as when you:

• have symptoms of a respiratory illness including COVID-19, or another infectious illness
• have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 5 days
• are a household contact and are still within your recommended 5-day testing period. 

Face masks are encouraged if you are:

• a household contact and testing daily for 5 days
• at higher risk of getting seriously ill from respiratory illnesses including COVID-19
• keen to reduce your risk of becoming sick.

Face masks are also encouraged when in closed, crowded or confined spaces such as:

• public transport, including buses, commuter trains, indoors on ferries, flights, taxis and ride-shares
• crowded places
• enclosed spaces with poor ventilation
• when in close contact situations, such as face-to-face conversations.

Some places such as workplaces, special events, or marae may still ask you to wear a face mask as a condition of entry. This is their decision and no longer a government requirement.

Face masks are generally not recommended for:

• people who have a physical or mental health condition or disability that makes wearing a mask unsuitable
• tamariki aged 5 or under.

Tamariki aged between 6 and 11 years are encouraged to wear a mask at the discretion and supervision of their caregiver.

Face masks can be purchased from retail stores such as pharmacies and supermarkets.