Covid 19 Coronavirus: Dr Ashley Bloomfield, the man behind the mask

As New Zealanders are urged to prepare for an imminent second wave of Covid-19, the country's top health official is demonstrating how to correctly use a face mask on social media this morning.

The director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield is appearing on the Ministry of Health's Facebook Page at 11.45am in a live session and taking questions from viewers.

The social media session comes after the government moved into a new phase of public preparedness for a second wave of the virus to sweep through the community.

People are now being encouraged to "be ready" and have a stock of masks on hand in household emergency kits should we see a similar style outbreak wreaking havoc in Victoria.

This week Health Minister Chris Hipkins warned if the country was ever to return to alert level two, Kiwis would be encouraged to wear masks in situations where they couldn't physically distance.