HealthInfo Canterbury
Face masks to reduce the spread of COVID-19
Kanohi kē e whakawhāiti i te hoarahanga o te mate korona
Wearing a face mask can reduce the risk of infected people spreading COVID-19.
A face mask helps stop droplets spreading when someone speaks, laughs, coughs or sneezes. This includes someone who has COVID-19 but feels well or has no obvious symptoms.
You should use a mask along with other measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These include hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette, not touching your face and physical distancing.
See When, why and how to wear a face mask for advice about which type of mask to wear and how to care for your mask.
This page on the COVID-19 government website gives information about when you should wear a face mask at different alert levels and in different regions of New Zealand.
Face mask exemptions
In certain situations, you can be exempt from wearing a face mask. This page gives information about the exemptions at different alert levels.
Some people who have a disability or health condition may not be able to wear a face covering safely or comfortably. To help with this, you can get an exemption card. You can show your exemption card when needed. For example, to a bus driver.
You don't need to have an exemption card, but you may feel more comfortable showing something official to confirm you can't wear a face covering.
If you think you need an exemption card, contact the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ. You can get a printable version or a card that you can show on your phone. You can contact the Disabled Persons Assembly NZ on (04) 801-9100 or at info@dpa.org.nz.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- Stuff – Mask 101: The best masks to protect against Covid-19 and how to wear them
Auckland GP Dr Sandhya Ramanathan demonstrates how to fit an N95 mask, and shows three hacks to make your surgical masks fit better.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- New Zealand Government COVID-19 website – Wear a face mask
Information about types of face masks, when to wear them, how to wear them and making your own.
- Ministry of Health
- COVID-19: Use of masks in the community
Information on the use of face masks in the community for COVID-19.
- COVID-19: How to use a face mask safely
Information about how to put a face mask on, what to do when wearing it, how to take it off and how to handle it safely after use to avoid the risk of infection.
- COVID-19: Use of masks in the community
Content shared between HealthInfo Canterbury, KidsHealth and Health Navigator NZ as part of a National Health Content Hub collaborative. Last reviewed February 2022.
Review key: HICOV-710714
