Otago University epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker has criticised the Government for favouring politics ahead of science in its continued reluctance to impose a mask mandate in schools.
Covid Response Minister Dr Ayesha Verrall today restated 10 million child-size masks would be made available for Year 4-7 students in New Zealand and up to 30,000 masks a week for all other students and school staff.
However, the Government had stopped short of imposing a mask-wearing mandate in schools.
"We will provide N95s for those that are medically vulnerable and that will come through at our collection points shortly."
Baker cited a study released this week in the United States' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal that found the risk of infection was reduced 75-fold if two people having a conversation - one with Covid-19 - had N95 masks on.
He also referenced the success countries with high mask-use had experienced in limiting cases and virus-related deaths, including Singapore, Japan and South Korea.
"We're not following the science here."
Baker said he would recommend use of N95-like masks when people were in poorly-ventilated, crowded environments, such as gyms or hospitality venues.
However, he did believe it was feasible to give all New Zealanders an N95 mask.