COVID-19/21,
| Authority | Department of Health and Social Care |
|---|---|
| Date received | 2021-01-26 |
| Outcome | Some information sent but not all held |
| Outcome date | 2021-02-19 |
| Case ID | 1646813 |
Summary
The request sought information on SARS-CoV-2 isolation, PCR testing parameters, mask risk assessments, and flu death statistics. The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed PCR details and internal mask assessments but stated the virus was not isolated or purified, while refusing to provide business-specific risk assessments and flu death numbers due to lack of held information.
Key Facts
- The Department stated that SARS-CoV-2 has not been isolated or purified.
- PCR tests used for SARS-CoV-2 run at 45 cycles of amplification.
- The Department conducts its own risk assessments regarding masks.
- Information on risk assessments by individual businesses was not held by the Department.
- Seasonal flu death numbers for 2019 and 2020 are held by Public Health within the Cabinet Office, not the Department of Health and Social Care.
Data Disclosed
- 2021-01-26
- 2021-02-19
- 1646813
- 45 cycles
- 2019
- 2020
Exemptions Cited
- Section 11(3)a of the Act (practical refusal reason: information not held or cannot be found after reasonable steps)
Original Request
Question 1: Has Covid 19/21 been isolated? Question 2: Has covid 19/21 been purified? Question 3: Has there been a risk assessment on masks.? Question 4: Have all places of business who have mandatory masks done a risk assessment or should they do a risk assessment, in regards to masks? For their employees and customers. Question 5: Is the sequence in the PCR test SarsCov2? Question 6: What amplifications has the PCR test been run at? Question 7: Can you provide the season flu death numbers for 2019 & 2020. Clarification sought: Regarding questions 1 & 2 when you say 'Has Covid 19/21 been isolated' do you mean has SARS-CoV-2 been isolated? If you don't please can you clarify what you are referring to?. Clarification received: Has the SarsCov2 been isolated and purified. To be proven scientifically and proven the virus causes disease.
Data Tables (3)
| As | a | public | authority, | the | Department | of | Health | and | Socia | l | Care | (the | ‘Department’) | is | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fully | committed | to | meeting | both | the | spirit | and | th | e | letter | of | the | Freedom | of | Information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Act. | It | has | come | to | the | a | ttention | of | th | e | Department | that | disclosure | to | a | previous | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| request | for | information | (FOI | 1646813 | C | ovid-19/21, | dated | 18 | th | February | 2021) | has | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| caused | confusion | regarding | answers | provided | to | Q1 | and | Q2 | (below) |
| Firstly it is incorrect to say that the virus that causes Covid-19 has not been isolated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| globally, therefore the Department in answering Q1 and Q2 based those original | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| answers on information held by the Department and on the presumption that the | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| requestor was asking if SARS-CoV-2 was isolated and purified by the Department. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The original team that dealt with these questions should have requested further | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| clarification from the applicant though based their response on ‘information held by | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| a public authority’. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This was a genuine error and on behalf of the Department I apologise. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Isolating a virus means taking a pure sample of a virus from an infected being so it | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| can be studied. There are numerous reports of the virus being isolated by teams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| around the world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SARS-CoV2 | has | been | sampled | numerous | times | over | from | infected | people, | including | ||||||||||||||
| thos | e o | riginally | found | to | be | infected | in | China. |
Full Response Text
Interim Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA
Tel: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc
Our ref: 1646813 18th February 2021
Dear ###
We write further to your request which was received on the 26th January 2021 and states:
Question 1: Has Covid 19/21 been isolated? Question 2: Has covid 19/21 been purified? Question 3: Has there been a risk assessment on masks? Question 4: Have all places of business who have mandatory masks done a risk assessment or should they do a risk assessment, in regards to masks? For their employees and customers. Question 5: Is the sequence in the PCR test SarsCov2? Question 6: What amplifications has the PCR test been run at? Question 7: Can you provide the season flu death numbers for 2019 & 2020? Clarification sought: Regarding questions 1 & 2 when you say 'Has Covid 19/21 been isolated' do you mean has SARS-CoV-2 been isolated? If you don't please can you clarify what you are referring to?
Clarification received:
Yes, SarsCov2 has it been isolated and purified.
Our response:
Clarification sought:
Regarding questions 1 & 2 when you say 'Has Covid 19/21 been isolated' do
you mean has SARS-CoV-2 been isolated? If you don't please can you clarify
what you are referring to?
Clarification received:
Has the SarsCov2 been isolated and purified. To be proven scientifically and
proven the virus causes disease.
Question 1:
Has Covid 19/21 been isolated?
Regarding SARS-CoV-2 the virus is not isolated.
Question 2:
Has covid 19/21 been purified?
Regarding SARS-CoV-2 it is not purified.
Question 3:
Has there been a risk assessment on masks?
The Department has and does risk assessments on masks.
Question 4:
Have all places of business who have mandatory masks done a risk
assessment or should they do a risk assessment, in regards to masks? For
their employees and customers.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the
Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the
information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a
practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking
reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.
Places of business are responsible for undertaking their own risk assessments and
setting their own policies for wearing masks.
To provide further advice and assistance guidance on face coverings, including ‘face
coverings at work’ is available within the public domain at:
https://covid19.gov.im/general-information/guidance-on-face-coverings/
Question 5:
Is the sequence in the PCR test SarsCov2?
Yes, the sequence in the PCR test is SARsCov2
Question 6:
What amplifications has the PCR test been run at?
The amplification is 45 cycles.
Question 7: Can you provide the season flu death numbers for 2019 & 2020? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. However you may wish to re-submit your request to Public Health within the Cabinet Office who may be able to help you. The information you have requested is held by Public Health. Please quote the reference number 1646813 in any future communications.
Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.
An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at
https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper
version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will
be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are
dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will
respond as soon as the review has been concluded.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal
to the Information Commissioner for a decision on;
1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with
Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any
time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another
form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in
making any subsequent decision.
More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information
Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.
Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at
www.gov.im/foi.
I will now close your request as of this date.
Yours sincerely
Interim Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA
Tel: (01624) 642621 Email: dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc
Our ref: 1646813 18th February 2021
Dear ###
We write further to your request which was received on the 26th January 2021 and states:
Question 1: Has Covid 19/21 been isolated? Question 2: Has covid 19/21 been purified? Question 3: Has there been a risk assessment on masks? Question 4: Have all places of business who have mandatory masks done a risk assessment or should they do a risk assessment, in regards to masks? For their employees and customers. Question 5: Is the sequence in the PCR test SarsCov2? Question 6: What amplifications has the PCR test been run at? Question 7: Can you provide the season flu death numbers for 2019 & 2020? Clarification sought: Regarding questions 1 & 2 when you say 'Has Covid 19/21 been isolated' do you mean has SARS-CoV-2 been isolated? If you don't please can you clarify what you are referring to?
Clarification received:
Yes, SarsCov2 has it been isolated and purified.
Our response:
Clarification sought:
Regarding questions 1 & 2 when you say 'Has Covid 19/21 been isolated' do
you mean has SARS-CoV-2 been isolated? If you don't please can you clarify
what you are referring to?
Clarification received:
Has the SarsCov2 been isolated and purified. To be proven scientifically and
proven the virus causes disease.
Question 1:
Has Covid 19/21 been isolated?
Regarding SARS-CoV-2 the virus is not isolated.
Question 2:
Has covid 19/21 been purified?
Regarding SARS-CoV-2 it is not purified.
Question 3:
Has there been a risk assessment on masks?
The Department has and does risk assessments on masks.
Question 4:
Have all places of business who have mandatory masks done a risk
assessment or should they do a risk assessment, in regards to masks? For
their employees and customers.
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the
Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the
information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a
practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking
reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested.
Places of business are responsible for undertaking their own risk assessments and
setting their own policies for wearing masks.
To provide further advice and assistance guidance on face coverings, including ‘face
coverings at work’ is available within the public domain at:
https://covid19.gov.im/general-information/guidance-on-face-coverings/
Question 5:
Is the sequence in the PCR test SarsCov2?
Yes, the sequence in the PCR test is SARsCov2
Question 6:
What amplifications has the PCR test been run at?
The amplification is 45 cycles.
Question 7: Can you provide the season flu death numbers for 2019 & 2020? While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Department of Health and Social Care (“the Department”) is unable to provide the information that you have requested. This is in line with Section 11(3)a of the Act, as a practical refusal reason applies; namely we do not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. However you may wish to re-submit your request to Public Health within the Cabinet Office who may be able to help you. The information you have requested is held by Public Health. Please quote the reference number 1646813 in any future communications.
Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.
An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at
https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper
version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will
be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are
dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will
respond as soon as the review has been concluded.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal
to the Information Commissioner for a decision on;
1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with
Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any
time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another
form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in
making any subsequent decision.
More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information
Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.
Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at
www.gov.im/foi.
I will now close your request as of this date.
Yours sincerely
Chief Executive: Kathryn Magson Freedom of Information Team Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3QA
Our ref: 1646813 26 July 2021
Dear ###
As a public authority, the Department of Health and Social Care (the ‘Department’) is fully committed to meeting both the spirit and the letter of the Freedom of Information Act. It has come to the attention of the Department that disclosure to a previous request for information (FOI 1646813 Covid-19/21, dated 18th February 2021) has caused confusion regarding answers provided to Q1 and Q2 (below) Our original response was: Question 1: Has Covid 19/21 been isolated? A: Regarding SARS-CoV-2 the virus is not isolated. Question 2: Has covid 19/21 been purified? A: Regarding SARS-CoV-2 it is not purified. Firstly it is incorrect to say that the virus that causes Covid-19 has not been isolated globally, therefore the Department in answering Q1 and Q2 based those original answers on information held by the Department and on the presumption that the requestor was asking if SARS-CoV-2 was isolated and purified by the Department. The original team that dealt with these questions should have requested further clarification from the applicant though based their response on ‘information held by a public authority’. This was a genuine error and on behalf of the Department I apologise. Isolating a virus means taking a pure sample of a virus from an infected being so it can be studied. There are numerous reports of the virus being isolated by teams around the world. SARS-CoV2 has been sampled numerous times over from infected people, including those originally found to be infected in China. We have reviewed our original response to FOI 1646813 Covid-19/21 and submit the following revised answers to Q1 & Q2
Question 1: Has Covid 19/21 been isolated? A: Regarding SARS-CoV-2 the virus, the Department, now Manx Care, does not isolate or purify the virus in a laboratory, but it has been isolated/purified many times in research laboratories globally. Question 2: Has covid 19/21 been purified? A: Regarding SARS-CoV-2 the virus, the Department, now Manx Care, does not isolate or purify the virus in a laboratory, but it has been isolated/purified many times in research laboratories globally. On behalf of the Department, I apologise for any confusion or inconvenience caused regarding our original disclosure.
Please quote the reference number 1646813 in any future communications.
Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.
An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal
to the Information Commissioner for a decision on;
1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with
Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any
time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another
form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in
making any subsequent decision.
More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information
Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.
Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Further inform
[Response truncated — full text is 20,584 characters]