COVID-19 Updates & Resources

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COVID-19 Updates

28 June 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 50
- Community Influenza Testing
- FAQ: Rapid Antigen Tests
- Flu Vaccination for Healthcare Workers
- SCL Software Update
27 June 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 49
- Extension To Free Flu Vaccine Eligibility Criteria
- Access to Flu Vaccines
- Second COVID-19 Booster
21 June 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 48
- Workforce Update
- Protecting Your Colleagues
- Flu Vaccination Update
- Community Testing Centre Matariki Weekend Hours
- Self-Care Resources
16 June 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 47
- Respiratory Illness Data
- Flu Vaccination Update
- Measles Management
- Update on Repeat Prescriptions
- Extension of the Temporary Waiver for Non-NZePS Signature Exempt Prescriptions
- Acute Demand and COVID-19
9 June 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 46
- Second Booster Update
- Registering COVID-19 Vaccinations on CIR
- Improving Access to Repeat Prescriptions
- Improving Access to Allied Health
- Weekend Respite COVID-19 Support for General Practices
- Community and Public Health Weekly Respiratory Report
- Free Online Triage Training for Nurses and Receptionists
- Long COVID Symposium Resources
2 June 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 45
- Streaming Changes in Acute Care
- New Face Mask Exemption Pass
- Check Blood Pressure of Pregnant Women Who Are Unwell
31 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 44
- Canterbury Health Sector Under Strain
- Influenza Update
- COVID-19 PCR Testing Criteria
27 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 43
- MoH Announces Second COVID-19 Booster
26 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 42
- High Volumes of Acute Respiratory Infections
- MMR Vaccination Campaign
- Global Monkeypox Outbreak
- FluTracking
24 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 41
- Influenza Arrives in Canterbury
- Updated COVID-19 Household Contact Definition and Isolation Requirements
- Review and Future of the Canterbury Hauora Coordination Hub
- Webinar: Ministry of Health May COVID-19 Response Update for Primary Care
19 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 40
- Expressions of Interest – Medical Cover for the Canterbury Hauora Coordination Hub
- High Index of Suspicion Criteria to be Retired
- Webinar: Ministry of Health May COVID-19 Response Update for Primary Care
- Long COVID Symposium
17 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 39
- Weekend Work Survey
- Changes to the Vaccination Order
- Temporary Increase in MMR Vaccination Funding
- RATs Can Be Collected by Family and Friends
- CCCM Updates
12 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 38
- Primary Care Staffing – URGENT HELP NEEDED
- COVID-19 Assessment and Reinfection Guidance
- National Immunisation Solution (NIS) – Flu Notification
- PSA Strike Action
- Review and Future of the Canterbury Hauora Coordination Hub
10 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 37
- Expressions of Interest – Medical Cover for the Canterbury Hauora Coordination Hub
- Long COVID Symposium
5 May 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 36
- Same Day Appointments
- New Oral COVID-19 Antiviral and Widened Prescribing Criteria
- COVID-19 Case Management Funded for up to Six Weeks
- High Index of Suspicion Criteria to be Retired
- Third Primary Vaccination Available for Severely Immunocompromised Children
- Funded Influenza Vaccination for Primary Care Staff
28 April 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 35
- Current Situation
- Staffing
- COVID-19 Vaccination Order – Medical Exemptions
- Prescribing to a COVID-19 Positive Patient
- Booster Canterbury Advertising Campaign
21 April 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 34
- GP Weekend Work Survey
- PCR Testing for International Arrivals
- Canterbury DHB Hospital Visitor Policy
- Notification of COVID-19 Related Deaths
- More Pharmacies Dispensing Paxlovid
- Free Hand Hygiene Posters
- Ministry of Health COVID-19 Webinar Recording
14 April 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 33
- MSD COVID-19 Welfare Line Hours Reduced
- Primary Care Staffing
- Pulse Oximeter Requests
- Changing Incorrectly Entered RAT results
12 April 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 32
- COVID-19 Antiviral Therapies
- Funding for COVID-19 Vaccine ADR Consults
- Helping Patients Avoid the Emergency Department
- Webinar: Ministry of Health April COVID-19 Response Update for Primary Care
7 April 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 31
- Boosters Available for 16 and 17-year-olds
- Notification of COVID-19 Related Deaths
- CCCM Updates
5 April 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 30
- Nirmaltrevir with Ritonavir (Paxlovid)
- RAT Distribution Centre Closures
- COVID-19 Modelling
- Webinars
- Telehealth Online Learning Modules
31 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 29
- COVID-19 Vaccination
- Influenza Vaccination
- Co-administration of Vaccinations
- Automated Record Removal from the CCCM
- Positive RAT Result to Inbox of Enrolled GP
- Rapid Antigen Test Collection points
- General Practice Funding for COVID-19 Testing Extended
29 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 28
- COVID-19 Cases
- Staff Exposure to COVID-19
- Workforce
- Contacting the Hub
24 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 27
- Vaccination Mandate Remains for Healthcare Workers
- Managing COVID-19 in Staff
- Details on the Deferral of Planned Specialist Care
- Remdesivir Available Now
- Refer Acute Demand for Hospital Avoidance Monitoring
- Prescribing for Patients Self-Isolating
22 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 26
- Canterbury DHB Moves to Stage 3
- The Role of the Hub in Clinical Care
- Novavax COVID-19 Vaccination
- Vaccination following COVID-19 Infection
- Public Health Notification of COVID-19 Deaths
- Risk Stratification Tool
- Prescription Collection for Households Affected by COVID-19
- Reordering RATs and PPE
- Online Self-Assessment Form Update
21 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 25
- Pulse Oximeter Clinical Criteria
- Pulse Oximeter Distribution & Hub Requests
- Return of Pulse Oximeters
- Remdesivir Availability
17 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 24
- Rationale for Management Changes with Omicron
- Case Notification and Initial Assessment
- Escalation of Care
- Discharge from Isolation
- Guidance for Pharmacists Providing Opioid Substitution Treatment
15 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 23
- COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalisations vs Modelling
- Accessing Urgent Welfare Supports
- Pacific COVID Hub
- COVID-19 Vaccination Programme in Canterbury
- RAT Performance in the Omicron Outbreak
- Pharmacy Deliveries for COVID-19 Cases
14 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 22
- Deferral of Planned Secondary Care
- Webinar: MoH COVID-19 Response Update for Primary Care
10 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 21
- Isolation Period Reduced to 7 days
- Staff Absences in General Practice and Pharmacy
- Rolleston RAT Collection Site
- ERMS Referrals to the Canterbury Hauora Coordination Hub
- Supporting Patients in Aged Residential Care Facilities
- Anti-Mandate Campaign
- RNZCGP and HDC Guidance on Clinical Accountability During Omicron
- N95 Pandemic Stock
- Interpreter Services for COVID-19 Care
- Optimsing Phone Systems
- Webinar: Ministry of Health COVID-19 Response Update for Primary Care
8 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 20
- Update to Pegasus Portal
- Mobile Testing
- Christchurch Arena RAT Collection Site
- Indications for PCR testing
4 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 19
- Mobile Testing Team
- Risk Stratification Tool
- Hospital Discharges of COVID-19 Positive Patients
- Vaccination of Recovered COVID-19 Cases
- COVID-19 Testing for Recovered Cases
- Flu Vaccinations
- Coronial Referral for Sudden Deaths following COVID-19 Vaccination
3 March 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 18
- Access to Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs)
- New Community Testing Centre (CTC) in Rangiora
- Changes to COVID-19 Case Management Funding
- COVID-19 Initial Assessment Requirements and Funding
- Health Providers Contacting the Hub
- Current Cases vs Modelling
- Care of Non-COVID-19 Conditions in COVID-19 Positive Patients
- COVID Clinical Care Module (CCCM) Prescription or Medical Needs Requests
- Update on CCCM Issues
- Public Service Association (PSA) Strike Friday
28 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 17
- Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT)
- Guidance for PCR Testing
- Funding for COVID-19 Related Activity
- Health Care Logistics (HCL) Distribution of Supplies
- COVID-19 Case Management
- Funding of COVID-19 Related Activity
- COVID Clinical Care Module (CCCM) Updates
- Staffing Support
- COVID-19 Testing in Pharmacies
24 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 16
- Move to Phase 3
- Managing Staff Exposed to COVID-19 in the Community or Workplace
- Estimated COVID-19 Cases for GP
- Automated COVID-19 Cases List and Triage Support
- Weekend Patient Management
- Pulse Oximeters
- Updated Ministry of Health Infection Prevention and Control (IP&C) Guidance
23 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 15
- Changes to testing and local case definition
- CCCM troubleshooting advice
22 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 14
- Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) Available for Asymptomatic Close Contacts from Community Testing Centres (CTC)
- Self-Isolation and Testing in Phase 2
- Public Health Notification Criteria for COVID-19 Cases
- GP Support Required for some Patients to Access My COVID Record
21 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 13
- Moving to the next stage of community management
- GP inbox monitoring 7 days a week
- RNZCGP/HealthPathways Webinar
- NZDoctor Article on Exposure Event management
18 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 12
- Update on temporary contact phone number for the Hub
17 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 11
- Phase 2 Transition
- Updated HealthPathways
- COVID Clinical Care Module (CCCM)
- Registering RAT Results in the CCE Scheme
- Ambulance Requests
- Ventilation in Primary Care
15 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 10
- Testing and Isolation
- Clinical Management
- Close Contact Exemption Scheme and Test to Return
- Mandatory Vaccination Order (Boosters) – Date Extension
- Community Laboratory Testing
- COVID-19 Emergency Staffing
- Upcoming Webinars
11 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 9
- Pulse Oximeters
- Prepare with shared care plans
- Webinars: ‘Ministry of Health – COVID-19 response update from primary care’ & ‘Infection, Prevention and Control COVID-19’
- Identification of high risk COVID-19 patients
8 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 8
- Vaccination mandate includes booster doses effective from 15 February 2022
- COVID-19 testing strategy
- Canterbury COVID-19 testing centre for health workers in Canterbury
- IP&C guidance
- COVID-19 care pathways
- Medical certificates for isolation
- Infection, Prevention and Control COVID-19 Webinar
1 February 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 7
- Rapid Antigen Testing (RATs)
- COVID-19 Testing for Canterbury health system staff
28 January 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 6
- Omicron in the community webinar recording – 26 January
- Canterbury Omicron modelling data
- Provisional vaccinators (PV) pathway to reopen
- Mask mandate
- Working with Omicron – a phased approach (guidance from Ministry of Health)
- HealthPathways links
25 January 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 5
- Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) – availability and ordering
- Reports of scam calls
24 January 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 4
- What does Red mean?
- Testing
- Vaccination
- Primary Care readiness and response
- Management of healthcare workers exposed to COVID-19 at work
- Webinars
- Changes to the Mandatory Vaccination Order – Boosters
20 January 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 3
- Paediatric Immunisation & Boosters
- Maintaining Equitable Paediatric Immunisation
- Planned COVID Immunisation Register (CIR) Outage
- Omicron in the community – How to prepare your team
13 January 2022 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 2022-01
- New CPRG Clinical Leader
- Readiness for 2022
- COVID-19 Testing
10 January 2022 – CPRG COVID hub update (1700)
- Canterbury Hauora Coordination Hub (Hub)
- Role of General Practice
- New National Funding Framework
- Border Control Management System (BCMS)
- Contacting the Canterbury Hauora Coordination Hub (Hub)
23 December 2021 – CPRG COVID hub update (1930)
23 December 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 73
- Paediatric COVID-19 Vaccinator Education Course – Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
21 December 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 72: COVID-19 Booster Dose interval change from January 2022
- COVID-19 Booster Programme
- Testing & Vaccinations during the holidays
- COVID-19 Hesitancy Consultation Claims
- Immunisation Advisory Centre Webinar
14 December 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 71
- COVID Hub Webinar – cancellation
- Rapid Antigen Testing
- PPE Supply
9 December 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 70
- Webinars coming up
- Farewell to Dr Hannah Gordon
7 December 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 69
- Community care for people who are COVID-19 positive
- AstraZeneca prescription consultation funding
- Christchurch needle anxiety COVID-19 vaccination clinics
- Text vaccination service launched
2 December 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 68
- COVID-19 vaccination boosters
- AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
- Consent and Prescribing for AstraZeneca
- Vaccination after COVID-19 infection
- COVID-19 Testing Eligibility
- Rapid Antigen Tests
- Testing of people post-MIQ
- Unvaccinated patients
- Access to PPE over Christmas holiday period
- Webinars: Practice management & Canterbury COVID Coordination Hub
26 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 67a
- AstraZeneca
- Third primary dose
- Care in the community – resources
25 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 67
- Overseas vaccinations into CIR
- Overseas vaccinations – My Vaccine Pass
- AstraZeneca – availability and key facts
- Third primary doses for immunocompromised people
- COVID-19 testing
- Testing of people post-MIQ
- Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT)
- IMAC webinars – AstraZeneca and booster doses
23 November 2021 – CPRG COVID-19 Update 66
- Caring for COVID-19 positive people in the community – update
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
CPR G 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

Further resources

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

COVID-19 Updates

Guidelines & Resources

Business Continuity

Further resources

Posters

Working Virtually

Websites