Toi Te Ora Public Health PO Box 2120 TAURANGA 3140
27 March 2020
Tēnā koutou Please find below confirmation of current advice with regards to the following operational aspects: • Re-testing of symptomatic patients who test negative for COVID-19 • Health professionals who are symptomatic with respiratory illness.
Re-testing symptomatic patients who test negative for COVID-19 Re-testing should be considered in an unwell hospital level patient where there is a high index of suspicion. Re-testing is not required in a patient who is well enough to be at home and has much the same symptoms, unless they deteriorate or develop new symptoms, especially shortness of breath. In this case, re-testing could be considered alongside clinical reassessment. Current advice to patients who have a negative result for COVID-19 is as follows: • They still need to complete the full 14-day isolation period if they have returned from overseas or have had close contact with someone with the virus. • If they are still sick with the same illness at the end of the 14-day isolation period, they will need to stay in isolation until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours. • If they are well, and have been for 24 hours, they can return to normal daily activity. • If their current symptoms get worse and they feel more unwell, they should call Healthline for advice. Current testing advice is as follows: • Testing should be done for any person meeting the suspected case definition or if clinical judgement indicates that testing is warranted. • Clinicians should be aware that immunocompromised patients may not present with typical symptoms so should be considered as a suspected case if they meet the epidemiological criteria. • Clinicians should also maintain a high level of suspicion and consider testing in case of doubt. • Testing in hospitals should always be done in consultation with the infectious disease physician or clinical microbiologist.