Health Emergency Response

COVID-19 Updates

• • 23 March 2023 CPRG COVID-19 Update 12
    • Masks in Primary Care
    • Pertussis and Meningococcal Disease
    • ESR Respiratory Surveillance and FluTracking
    • Point of Care TnI Testing in ED
  • 9 March 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 11
    • Molnupiravir and Evusheld: No Longer Recommended for COVID-19
    • Cases of Meningococcal Disease in Canterbury
    • Pertussis Deaths in New Zealand
    • Pericarditis Following Mpox Vaccination
  • 2 March 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 10
    • 2023 Funded Flu Vaccination Criteria
    • Funding Uplift for MMR and Childhood Immunisations
    • Funded Consults for Patients Displaced by Cyclone Gabrielle
    • RNZCGP Infection Prevention and Control Guidance
  • 23 February 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 09
    • Cyclone Gabrielle
    • COVID-19: Bivalent Booster Announced
    • COVID-19: Case Numbers, Vaccination for High-Risk Children, Inboxes & Awards
      Measles
  • 14 February 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 08
    • Measles Confirmed in New Zealand
    • COVID-19 Funding
    • Reduced Hours at Riccarton Clinic Urgent Care
  • 9 February 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 07
    • COVID-19 Funding Changes
    • COVID-19 Vaccine for High-Risk Children Aged 6 Months to 4 Years Available
    • MPox Prevention
  • 3 February 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 06
    • COVID-19 Care in the Community Updated Model of Care
  • 2 February 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 05
    • Canterbury set to sizzle heading into the long weekend
    • Medication storage in hot weather
  • 31 January 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 04
    • COVID-19 Funding Update
    • COVID-19 Disability Helpline
    • COVID-19 in Pregnancy
    • Fluoxetine Supply Issue
  • 27 January 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 03
    • Funding continues for priority and vulnerable people with COVID-19 including those eligible with for anti-virals
    • Funding rates have changed for some services
    • Funding for chart review for COVID-19 positive people will stop
    • There will be no funding for a routine post hospital discharge visit/review.
  • 19 January 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 02
    • PCR Testing for COVID-19 Cases Travelling from China
    • Claims Update for Evusheld and Antiviral Advanced Prescriptions
    • COVID-19 Post Vaccine Symptom Check Results
  • 10 January 2023 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 01
    • COVID-19 Update
    • Monkeypox Vaccination
    • Poliomyelitis Prevention and Management

For all CPRG Updates pertaining to COVID-19, go to Resources and filter the list for ‘Update’ or for ‘COVID-19’.

Guidelines & Resources

Clinical guidelines for COVID-19 assessment, treatment and management, can be found on Community HealthPathways.

• New! Extension of Temporary Prescription Waivers – 22 September 2020
• COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan – 10 September 2020
• MoH Primary Care Quick Reference Guide – 24 August 2020
• COVID-19 Assessments in General Practice – Updated Framework – 24 June 2020
• Principles for Pharmacy during Alert Level 1 – 9 June 2020
• What does Level 1 mean for General Practice? from RNZCGP – 4 June 2020
• MoH Alert Level 2 PPE Guidelines (Unknown COVID Status) – 15 May 2020
• MoH Alert Level 2 PPE Guidelines (Suspected, Probable or Confirmed COVID Case) – 15 May 2020
• The MoH has released comprehensive FAQs regarding signature exempt prescriptions. You can find more information here.
• The Royal NZ College of General Practitioners has released advice on what Level 2 means for primary care. You can view their article here.
• MoH PPE Guidelines for Community Pharmacy – 8 April 2020
• Community Pharmacy Guidelines for Cleaning and Decontamination – 20 April 2020
• Community Pharmacy Infection Prevention and Control Overview – 9 April 2020
• Director-General Waiver under Regulation 43 Medicines Regulations 1984 – 27 March 2020
• Opioid Substitution Therapy Guidelines for COVID-19 – 27 March 2020
• Donning PPE instructions 
  • Donning PPE Video here
• Removing PPE instructions
  • Removal PPE Video here
• Cleaning, disinfecting and waste guidelines

Business Continuity

• Sample Practice Pandemic COVID-19 Checklist (Auckland PHO) – August 2020
• SIAPO/CPRG Business Continuity Plan – General Practice
• SIAPO/CPRG Business Continuity Plan – Community Pharmacy

Further resources 

The Canterbury HealthInfo website has many excellent resources and information for patients. Refer patients to the HealthInfo or Ministry of Health websites.

Posters

• Full Colour ‘Stop’ Poster A4 version – for practices to add their phone number
• Full Colour ‘Stop’ Poster A3 version – for practices to add their phone number
• Full Colour ‘Stop’ Poster A2 version – for practices to add their phone number
• COVID-19 Assets from Health Promotion Agency – 16 March 2020
• COVID-19 Resources in other languages now available – 13 March 2020
• Stop! Poster (Basic Word version) A4 for Pharmacies – 13 March 2020
• Stop! Poster (Basic Word version) A4 – 2 March 2020 – for practices to add their phone number
• Stop! Poster (Basic Word version) A3 – 2 March 2020 – for practices to add their phone number
• Protect Yourself against Coronavirus Poster
• Hand Hygiene Poster
• 5 Moments for Hand Hygiene at the Point of Care Poster
• Cover your Cough

Working Virtually

• Virtual GP Toolkit:
  • Read First
  • First Steps for Telephone Consultations
  • 5 Step Guide for Video Consultations
  • Virtual GP Kit for Practice Managers
  • Virtual GP Kit for GPs
  • Virtual GP Kit Setup Guide
• More information on telehealth can be found on the Health Navigator site.

Websites

• NZ COVID Tracer App
• Health Promotion Agency – COVID-19 Information Assets
• WHO – Coronavirus
• Ministry of Health Facebook page: facebook.com/minhealthnz
• Te Punaha Matatini – Centre of Research Excellence, University of Auckland
• COVID-19 Canterbury Primary Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2359383477687909