Health Emergency Response

COVID-19 Updates

• 18 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 65
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Pfizer booster doses
  • AstraZeneca
  • Streaming of unvaccinated and unmasked patients in primary care
  • Impacts of shorter stays in MIQ
  • Maternity services impacted by mandatory vaccination health order
• 11 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 64
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Access to AstraZeneca vaccine
  • Booster doses
  • Progress update – COVID-19 coordination hub
  • National COVID-19 testing strategy
  • Continuation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme to June 2022
  • Guidance for post-MIQ self-isolation
  • Managing COVID-19 in the community webinar
• 08 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 63
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Amendments to the Public Health Response order
  • Exemptions from the mandatory vaccination order
• 04 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 62 – COMMUNITY CASES OF COVID-19 CONFIRMED IN CANTERBURY
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Managing and caring for COVID-19 positive patients in the community
  • Vaccine exemption certificates
• 02 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 61 – COMMUNITY CASES OF COVID-19 CONFIRMED IN CANTERBURY
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Managing COVID-19 care in the community – HealthPathways
  • Managing COVID-19 care in the community – webinar
  • Third primary dose consultation claiming
  • CPRG clinical lead – seeking expressions of interest
• 29 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 60 – COMMUNITY CASES OF COVID-19 CONFIRMED IN CANTERBURY
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Funding for third primary dose consultations
  • Canterbury DHB updates visitor restrictions
  • Operating at health system alert level yellow
  • Medical exemptions for vaccinations
  • HealthPathways – managing people with COVID-19 in the community
  • Pre-surgical COVID-19 testing
  • Upcoming webinars
• 28 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 59 – COMMUNITY CASES OF COVID-19 CONFIRMED IN CANTERBURY
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Key messages – 28 October 2021
• 26 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 58
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • COVID-19 consent and attendance forms
  • Funding for third primary dose consultations
  • MIQ health workforce policy change
  • Webinar – Care of COVID-19 in the community (save the date)
• 22 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 57
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Third primary dose
• 21 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 56
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Third primary dose for immunocompromised people
  • NZePS and paperless prescriptions
  • Ventilation and air filtration
  • Caring for people with COVID-19 in the community – pulse oximeters
• 19 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 55
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Super Saturday – the results
  • Funding/charging streams for COVID-19 testing
  • Managing COVID-19 care in the community – update
  • Shared Care Plans webinar
• 14 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 54
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • My COVID record is now available
  • Process for claiming COVID-19 hesitancy consultations
  • Super Saturday – Support
  • Support for managing unvaccinated staff
  • Outbound calling service
  • Transport initiatives
• 12 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 53
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Caring for people with COVID-19 in the community
  • Managing risk exposure in your facility
  • Funding for in-clinic call-backs
  • Mandatory vaccination for 2 workforces
  • Super Saturday
• 07 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 52
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Changing the timing between doses (6 weeks to 3 weeks)
  • Super Saturday
  • Mobile clinics
• 05 October 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 51
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
    • Engagement with people under 35
    • Engagement with priority populations
  • Administering Pfizer at the same time as other vaccines
  • Changes to COVID-19 testing strategy
• 27 September 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 50
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Health System Response Framework
• 23 September 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 49
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
    • Moving to a new phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme
  • Change to oropharyngeal/deep nares swab
  • Written criteria for access to home-based COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Guidance for people who have received one COVID-19 vaccine overseas
• 16 September 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 48
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • Pre-travel testing reminder
  • Boundary surveillance testing
  • Fit testing update
  • Updating Healthpoint
• 7 September 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 47
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
  • National Delta Alert Level 2 – What you need to do at your practice/pharmacy
  • Testing of essential workers crossing the Auckland boundary
• 1 September 2021 – National Child Cancer Network COVID-19 Vaccination Bulletin (PDF)
• 30 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 44
  • COVID-19 vaccination programme update
    • Canterbury’s vaccination rollout in numbers – graphic 
    • Vaccine for pregnant and breastfeeding women
    • Myocarditis and Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccination
  • Staff surveillance testing
  • Occupational risk assessment matrix
  • E-ordering at testing stations
  • Blood testing for clozapine – request from the psychiatry team
  • Useful information
• 27 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 43
  • Urgent message about sourcing pulse oximeters
• 26 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 42
  • Pre-screening for Aged Residential Care
  • Childhood immunisations
  • RNZCGP guidance for managing a positive case in staff
  • Message from Canterbury Health Laboratories 
  • National clinical advice line
  • Useful information 
• 24 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 41
  • General update
  • Business continuity 
  • P2/N95 exemption
  • Updating Healthpoint
  • Community welfare
  • Impact of the situation in Afghanistan 
  • Useful information 
• 23 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 40
  • Clarification to HIS
  • Food Delivery
  • Childcare Funding for Essential Workers
  • Mask Exemption
  • Business Continuity
  • Reduce Wait Time Post Vaccination
  • Media Enquiries
• 23 August 2021 – Message from Primary Care Leads (COVID Vaccine & Immunisation Programme)
• 21 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 39
  • General update  
  • Equity and welfare
  • Unvaccinated workforce
  • Notification to the Medical Officer of Health of HIS criteria 
  • Clarification of testing advice from TAG
  • Travel testing
  • Webinar: General Practice monitoring and management of mild to moderate COVID-19 illness – learnings from Canada
  • Managing misinformation
• 19 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 37
  • General update
  • P2/ N95 use
  • Swabbing in children
  • PPE ordering
  • Healthcare worker testing
  • Canterbury’s COVID-19 vaccination programme

• 18 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 36
  • Auckland COVID-19 community cases
  • P2/ N95 update
  • Canterbury’s COVID-19 vaccination programme

• 17 August 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 35
  • COVID-19 Community Case in Auckland
  • Second Dose Notification Error

• 13 August 2021 – Anaphylaxis and COVID-19 Vaccination (PDF)
• 13 August 2021 – Spring Education Series – Infection Prevention & Control (PDF)
• 28 June 2021 – Canterbury is currently vaccinating Group 2 and Group 3
• 28 June 2021 – COVID Group 3 vaccinations poster (PDF)
• 17 May 2021 – N95 Mask Fit Testing
• 14 May 2021 – Virology Service for Respiratory Virus Diagnosis (PDF)
• 12 April 2021
  • Interim guidance for the use of P2/N95 particulate respirators by general practice or urgent medical health care providers (PDF)
  • HealthPathways: Sequencing of Influenza and mRNA-CV Vaccinations (PDF)
  • CPRG COVID-19 and Immunisation Update
• 8 April 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 and Immunisation Update
• 1 April 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 and Immunisation Update
• 29 March 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Vaccination Update
• 19 March 2021 – COVID-19 Vaccination: Expression of Interest (PDF)
• 19 March 2021 – COVID-19 Vaccine Immunisation Programme – Operating Guidelines for DHBs & Providers (PDF)
• 19 March 2021 – COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Plan poster (PDF)
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 3 March 2021 – Updated vaccination and self-isolation information
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 1 March 2021 – General update
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 11 December 2020 – China Travel Testing and Red Streaming Seminar
• MoH Email to GPs – Guidelines for signing up to centralised PPE distribution programme
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 10 December 2020 – Advice of change to PPE distribution effective from 21/1/2021
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 4 December 2020 – Notifying Test results, New Border Order and Pre-travel testing for China
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 28 October 2020 – Swabbing clarification and Pre-travel testing
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 19 October 2020 – Travel testing and addition to priority group for testing
• NEW! MoH Testing Strategy (5 October 2020) – Continuation of current strategy.
• CPRG Coronavirus Update- Primary level alerts, Testing children, PPE supplies – 1 October 2020
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 22 September 2020 – Lab systems upgrade; border testing flagged in PMS; mask recommendations; PPE deliveries weekly; extension of waiver for non-NZePS-capable systems
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 10 September 2020 – New testing guidance; travel testing; tip from IPC
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 28 August 2020 – Guidance on asymptomatic testing
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 27 August 2020 – Primary care guidance; PPE and masks; isolation
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 18 August 2020 – ARC medical support; locum register; care plans
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 17 August 2020 – Testing, lab feedback, Level C funding and communicating with patients about scripts
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 13 August 2020 – Reminders from our lab colleagues
• CPRG Coronavirus update – 12 August 2020 – Covid Testing, CBACs being set up
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 28 July 2020 – Clarity on who should be tested; new PPE dispatch schedule
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 15th July 2020 – Updated MoH guidance; who to test; swabbing children; which swab to use
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 10 July 2020 – CBAC referrals dramatically reduced; ePortal updated with new claiming structure; PPE survey coming out next week; practice voice messages
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 3 July 2020: Healthline calls no longer diverting to CBAC triage team; new tiered funding for assessing patients
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 2 July 2020: Clarification of testing and PPE
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for Community Pharmacy – 1 July 2020: Change in case definition; when should symptomatic staff be swabbed; Clozapine dispensing; extension of temporary waiver
• CPRG Coronavirus Update #2 – 25 June 2020: Summary of changes in the case definition and recommendations for general practice
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 25 June 2020: Change in case definition; testing delays; testing special cases; swabbing
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 10 June 2020: General practice and community pharmacy activity at Alert Level 1
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 4 June 2020: Process for managing healthcare worker return to work
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 22 May 2020: Promoting testing in your practice; new pathways; Tracer app; oral contraceptives; historical discharge summaries
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 19 May 2020: Lab changes; CDHB requests; self-isolation changes; influenza immunisations
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for Community Pharmacy – 14 May 2020: HealthPathways; referral for COVID patients; ePrescription timing; signature-exempt prescriptions
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 14 May 2020: Prescriptions; Acute Plans; Well Child services; patients with intellectual disabilities; back to work advice
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 8 May 2020: ERMS hospital scripts; increased drug seeking behaviour; ARC screening form; UoO GP project
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 7 May 2020: COVID claims; labelling of swab specimens; ARC/LTC COVID survey
• CPRG Coronavirus Update – 4 May 2020: ePrescribing; employers requesting swabs; influenza surveillance; comms to specialists
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 28 April 2020: Funding criteria; lab testing availability; patients with mental health conditions
• CPRG Coronavirus Update for General Practice – 24 April 2020: Public health notification changes; labelling of swab speciments; Special Authority/NPPA approvals

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