General update for sectors

Phase Two of the Omicron Response. This includes DHBs, general practice, pharmacies and frontline critical health services.

Confirmed deliveries are in place for a further 20 million RATs by the end of February and we have recently placed orders that will mean more than 50 million RATs are delivered in March. In total the Ministry has 185 million RATs on order.

The Ministry is working with DHBs and others to finalise the distribution model to support the integration of RATs into our testing system at Phase Two of the Omicron Response alongside PCR tests.

The use and supply of RATs will continue to be prioritised to enable asymptomatic critical workers to return to work and to help us identify transmission of COVID-19 early and at scale to help protect New Zealanders, including those who are most vulnerable. Many of the RATs will be used to implement the Test to Return programme.

General update for sectors

Rapid Antigen Tests The use and supply of RATs for Omicron Phase Two will continue to be prioritised to enable asymptomatic critical workers to return to work and to help us identify transmission of COVID-19 early and at scale to help protect New Zealanders, including those who are most vulnerable. Many of the RATs will be used to implement the Test to Return scheme. It is not intended that surveillance testing will take place except for those organisations required under the Required Testing Order. In the event of any changes to the position for surveillance testing, the Ministry would work with the applicable sectors on implementation.

We have received a large volume of orders for rapid antigen tests (RATs). Publicly funded healthcare organisations are able to order both supervised and unsupervised RATs. Please note that some orders have been reviewed and adjusted to ensure that initial volumes supplied reflect anticipated application and the proposed alternative distribution mechanisms for supporting communities in Omicron Response Phases Two and Three. We’ve provided information directly to sectors around how to order RATs in preparation for these next Phases. Please note that RATs should not be used yet except for in approved circumstances (DHB point of care testing and supervised pharmacy testing for eligible people).

Unsupervised (self-test) RATs can be ordered from the Ministry directly to selected (DHBs, general practice & urgent care, pharmacies, ARCs, community health providers and first responders) publicly funded healthcare organisations for their critical workers to hold and prepare to use as part of the Test to Return scheme in Omicron Phase Two. These organisations have been selected due to their role in supporting the overall COVID-19 response. MBIE has developed a self-assessment tool to help identify critical workers in other organisations. This notes that all workers within a workforce may not be critical.

Fit Testing for Primary and Community healthcare workers We are aware that access to fit testing services remains constrained as a result of the increased demand for fit testing with more parts of the sector and industry potentially using P2/N95 particulate respirators, alongside annual fit testing requirements. Realistically, it will not be feasible for every healthcare worker who may come into contact with a positive case to be fit tested and prioritisation of fit testing resources is required.