8 Dec_comms to sector_RATs in pharmacies

Talking points for Ministerial announcement – 8 Dec Rapid antigen testing and testing requirements for unvaccinated travellers over holiday period Key messages The Ministry has been engaging with the Pharmacy sector, following Minister Verrall’s announcement on 25 November that rapid antigen tests would be available to the public under supervision by pharmacies from 15 December.

The Pharmacy Guild of New Zealand, Green Cross Health and Pharmaceutical Society of NZ represent a significant proportion of the pharmacy sector and the Ministry has been working at pace with them to develop the rollout of rapid antigen testing to the community.

The Auckland boundary will be lifted at 11.59pm on Tuesday 14 December. From 15 December, those travelling out of Auckland who are not fully vaccinated will need to carry with them evidence of a negative test result within 72 hours of travel. In addition, those who are travelling in other parts of the country with a transport company will also be required to carry evidence of a negative test result.

Testing for asymptomatic unvaccinated individuals who are travelling during the holiday period will be free from 15 December to 31 January and will be available at selected pharmacies throughout the country.

As 97.2% of the population live within 20 minutes’ drive from a pharmacy, use of this network will ensure testing is widely available for all those that need it during this time.

Utilising the pharmacy network to provide supervised testing for unvaccinated travellers to meet these testing requirements provides a convenient, reliable and trusted option for the community.

Engagement with community pharmacies is well underway to make rapid antigen testing available across the country.

We will continue to work with the pharmacy sector to ensure all preparations are in place for 15 December, with further details to be made available in coming days.

What test?

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A rapid antigen test will be used for the purposes of this testing requirement.

A negative PCR test is acceptable, but we are asking asymptomatic unvaccinated individuals to not use this type of test to meet these requirements for travel. This will allow our laboratories to focus on the processing of PCR tests and reduce the turnaround time of returning test results to symptomatic people and close contacts of confirmed cases as we continue to respond to the current outbreak.

Who needs to be tested?

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Evidence of a negative rapid antigen test is required by the following people no more than 72 hours prior to travel, preferably within the 24 hours immediately preceding travel:

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Asymptomatic, unvaccinated individuals over 12 years leaving Auckland. Port Waikato is included in the boundary with Auckland, and travellers across the boundary must follow the same rules.

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Asymptomatic, unvaccinated domestic travellers over 12 years from any other part of the country, who travel with a transport company that requires evidence of a negative test result (e.g. Air New Zealand, Interislander Ferry)

Cost of testing • Rapid antigen testing is only available for asymptomatic, unvaccinated individuals over 12 years leaving Auckland and for the purpose of domestic travel as required by transport operators across New Zealand from 15 December to 31 January and will be free of charge.

When to get tested?

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As this is a rapid antigen test, the Ministry strongly recommends that it is administered as close as possible to the time of travel, preferably in the 24 hours prior to departure.

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Unvaccinated individuals wishing to leave Auckland or travel across the motu must therefore plan their travel carefully to allow sufficient time to get tested.

Where to get tested?

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The Ministry is working with the pharmacy sector to make supervised rapid antigen testing available to the community at selected pharmacies from 15 December 2021.

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The Healthpoint website will provide details of pharmacies offering this service.

Framing messages •

Broader use of testing technologies and adoption of innovation is a key part of the Ministry’s new testing strategy which takes a risk-based approach to ‘use the right test at the right time for the right group of people.’

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The use of rapid antigen testing plays an important role in our testing approach, particularly for surveillance testing. The Ministry’s Public Health and Science teams have advised that rapid antigen testing is effective for this testing requirement.

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The Ministry has revised its position on rapid antigen testing based on emerging global evidence on its effectiveness as a surveillance tool and increasing community transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant within New Zealand.

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Rapid antigen testing appropriate for use as a screening tool in situations where a rapid result is needed to inform our risk assessment for groups of people in different settings.

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Rapid antigen testing is not to be used for symptomatic individuals. The advice for those who are unwell and have COVID-19 symptoms continues to be, stay home and get a PCR test.

Q&A and reactive lines Where tests will be available?

Supervised rapid antigen testing will be available from selected pharmacies for the testing of asymptomatic unvaccinated individuals leaving Auckland and travelling domestically from 15 December 2021.

What sort of rapid antigen test is it?

Three rapid antigen tests have been approved by the Ministry. They are all nasal swabs (from the front of the nose).

When will saliva-based rapid antigen tests be available.

Any new rapid antigen kits need to go through a process of evaluation and approval by the Ministry of Health.

This is to prevent testing for COVID-19 using unverified or unaccredited methods or tools and prevent the misinterpretation of any results.

There are currently three rapid antigen tests authorised for import and supply under the COVID19 Public Health Response (Point of Care) Order.

Applications for the importation and use of rapid antigen tests can be made via the Ministry of Health website.

The Ministry continues to consider the potential for the use of antigen testing, and other technologies, including saliva-based test kits as part of the public health response.

How people can access a test prior to leaving (time it takes, what they can physically expect)?

Supervised rapid antigen testing will be available via selected pharmacies across the motu.

Unvaccinated individuals wishing to leave Auckland or travel across the motu must therefore plan their travel carefully to allow sufficient time to get tested.

The test will be supervised by a trained staff member from a pharmacy.

It takes approximately 15 minutes from the time that a nasal sample is taken to when the result is available.

The nasal swab is inserted into the nostril up to 23cm from the edge and slowly rolled over the

surface about 5 times. It is much less invasive than a PCR nasal swab.

What types of tests will be acceptable and what documentation they’ll need to carry with them?

There are three types of rapid antigen test approved for use under supervision at pharmacies.

All three tests that have been approved, use front of nose nasal swabs.

Pharmacies will not be required to question each individual requesting a supervised test on their eligibility.

High public demand and eligibility for this testing will be a high trust model supported by a strong communications campaign, and training of pharmacy staff.

A negative PCR test is acceptable, but we are asking asymptomatic unvaccinated individuals to not use this type of test to meet these requirements for travel.

This will allow our laboratories to focus on the processing of PCR tests and reduce the turnaround time of returning test results to symptomatic people and close contacts of confirmed cases as we continue to respond to the current outbreak.

Reminder on how it will be checked/policed?

There will be spot checks by Police and if stopped, unvaccinated individuals leaving Auckland, who do not provide proof of a negative test will be turned around.

Compliance checking of requirements for domestic travel across the country will be managed by private providers who decide to impose this for unvaccinated travellers using their services.

What the cost of a test will be if any?

Testing for unvaccinated individuals leaving Auckland and for domestic travel around other parts of the country will be free from 15 December 2021 until 17 January 2022.

Making rapid antigen testing for this purpose free ensures: • protection of our vulnerable communities, given the lower rates of vaccination in some parts of the country; and • testing is widely available during this period of time when people are travelling around the country.

Timeframes for getting tested so people can plan?

Unvaccinated individuals leaving Auckland and travelling domestically must provide proof of a negative test taken 72 hours prior to departure.

As this is a rapid antigen test, the Ministry strongly recommends that this is administered as close as possible to the time of departure, preferably 24 hours prior to departure.

What about permitted workers who currently are on a weekly proof of evidence of test regime to cross the Auckland boundary?

Unvaccinated workers crossing the Auckland boundary who are already part of a testing regime for crossing the boundary can continue with their current regime, otherwise unvaccinated workers can use the proof of negative test taken with 72 hours prior.

When will home-testing kits be available for sale to the public?

The three rapid antigen test kits currently been approved for use in New Zealand require supervision and are not self-administered kits.

The Ministry is currently working through the evaluation and authorisation process of other rapid antigen test kits which include ones which can be self-administered.

Purchase of off-the-shelf self-test rapid antigen tests for use at home is still being considered and may be available for the general public in the New Year.