NCTS Changes for Phase 2

NCTS Changes for Phase 2 Texts to Cases Cases with valid mobile numbers will receive text notifications with the following information: • Confirmation of their positive test result • Link to the COVID Contact Tracing Form • Link to website for more information and guidance for positive Cases Cases will receive texts from the ‘2328’ number, which the public will already be familiar with as this number has previously been used for vaccine booking confirmations and texts to close contacts.

What does this mean?

Cases who have received the text: If Case Investigators are calling a Case to conduct an investigation over the phone, it is possible the Case will already be aware of their positive result.

Cases who have not received the text: Cases without a valid mobile number will still need to be notified of their positive result, as they will not have received a text notification.

COVID Contact Tracing Form As noted above, the COVID Contact Tracing Form, which has undergone a pilot with Reach Aotearoa, will be included in the text message to Cases. This self-service tool will empower Cases to share: • Infectious period • Symptoms and underlying conditions • Household Contacts • NZ COVID Tracer Diary and Bluetooth Data • Timeline of high-risk locations and close contacts • Information on how to access welfare support from the Ministry of Social Development The form is significantly quicker for the Case to complete than the phone interviews. Feedback from the pilot has suggested that Cases navigated the form relatively easily and returned their surveys soon after receiving them.

If Cases submit the form then realise they have forgotten to add information, they will be able to reaccess the form for up to 72 hours after receiving it. They do not need to re-enter the previously submitted information again. New information that they enter will be added to the NCTS, and previous information will not be overridden.

Note: We are ideally wanting Cases to complete the form within 24 hours.

Cases who do not submit the form within 24 hours will receive a phone call to complete their investigation.

The form is data-free, meaning people will not be charged or lose their data in order to access the form.

For detailed information on how the tool will work, and what the Case will see, please refer to this NCTS Knowledge Base article: https://ncts.lightning.force.com/lightning/r/Knowledge__kav/ka04a0000000lbZAAQ/view

Business Rules are currently being finalised and will be shared shortly.

What will the text say?

Updated ‘Guidance on community cases and contacts: categories and actions’ The ‘Guidance on community cases and contacts: categories and actions’ document – colloquially known as the ‘Rainbow Chart’ – has been updated to reflect the move to Phase 2 and is effective from 16 February 2022. This includes amendments to management pathways for Cases and Contacts. Management Plans in the NCTS will be updated to reflect these changes.

Existing Close Contacts whose isolation periods will be shortened as a result of the change will automatically receive a one-off email advising them of the change to their isolation.

Updated to letters for Close Contacts Letters for Close Contacts have been updated to reflect the move to Phase 2.

Available Close Contact letters in the NCTS will now consist of: • Release Contact from Quarantine • Not a Contact Letter • Contact Employer Letter – Household • Guidance for Close Contacts – Household ‘Critical Worker’ added as a DC Suspended Reason In anticipation of Phase 2, ‘Critical Worker’ has been added to the drop-down list of Suspended Reasons on the DC Record.