Health Emergency Response

COVID-19 Updates

• 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