Home and Community Support Services & Disability Support Services sector update

P2/N95 particulate respirators We communicated with the sector on 22 December 2021 regarding the supply of P2/N95 particulate respirators. The decision to provide a ‘push order’ of a small volume of N95s to ARC facilities recognised the significant congestion in the freight/courier network over the busy holiday period, as well as the shift to the COVID-19 Protection Framework and the suppression strategy. It is intended that the volume of P2/N95 particulate respirators distributed is sufficient supply to support an ARC facility’s essential engagement, while an ARC Outbreak Kit is deployed. The Ministry will be engaging with sector representatives over the coming days to understand whether the volumes supplied before Christmas met this intent, or whether further supplies might be necessary in some instances/locations. A few aged residential care facilities have indicated they haven’t received the contingency supply of N95s sent in December which we will also address on an individual case by case basis.

We know just how devasting outbreaks in Aged Residential Care facilities can be and the ability to respond immediately is critical. We also know that one of the best strategies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 through facilities is to be incredibly vigilant in Infection Prevention and Control practices before COVID-19 is identified. The introduction of Rapid Antigen Testing supports the identification of COVID-19 before transmission becomes vast and it is one of the many measures, that when used properly and together with other measures, can help to keep our communities safe.

At this stage we have not added P2/N95 particulate respirators to the PPE Portal for Aged Residential Care facilities. The Ministry’s Infection Prevention and Control guidance for PPE selection remains that P2/N95 particulate respirators should be used in specific circumstances when engaging with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or with a person who is both a close contact of a confirmed case and symptomatic. A medical mask should be utilised in the majority of other scenarios. The Ministry continually reviews its Infection Prevention and Control guidance and in the event of changes, these will be communicated, including information around accessing appropriate PPE.

Home and Community Support Services & Disability Support Services sector update

HCSS and DSS response kits The Ministry has prepared HCSS/DSS COVID-19 response kits which include P2/N95 particulate respirators. These have been rapidly deployed in recent instances where COVID-19 cases have been identified and where ongoing care and support for the client is necessary. As we move into this next Phase of our COVID-19 response, we are preparing a further 300 HCSS/DSS kits and adding them to the PPE Portal template for each DHB to maintain a supply of and to support their community needs.

We have engaged with representatives from the home care sector and intend to provide HCSS/DSS kits to the large home care providers with a view to them collaborating with other local providers, DHB portfolio managers and COVID-19 Care in the Community hubs to support caring for those with COVID-19.

The Ministry has already supplied HCSS/DSS COVID-19 response kits to Manawanui which supports Individualised Funding disability providers with PPE for employers. We will be increasing the number of response kits Manawanui holds and will be engaging directly with Disability sector representatives to enable access to response kits, as we are doing for the home care sector.

This plan to make kits available for rapid deployment directly to those providing care is intended to allow important care to continue and support the needs of clients and communities. The Ministry will be working over the coming days to confirm the details of where kits should be initially deployed