Omicron Phase 2 Q&A

Omicron Phase Two: Answers to common questions from BOP General Practice 16/02/2022

1.

Do the time frames for those currently isolating change on 16 February 2022?

At Phase Two: Cases: self-isolate for 10 days Household contacts: self-isolate for the same 10 day period - if anyone else in the house tests positive that person then becomes a case and will have to complete 10 days isolation BUT the other household contacts will still be released at the completion of time relative to the first case. Negative testing on day 3 and 8 is required Close contacts: self-isolate for 7 days with test on day 5 The Full Ministry of health guidance document (POL-002 version 7.0) is here: http://portal.wboppho.org.nz/images/documents/POL002_Guidance_on_community_cases_and_contacts_categories_and_actions_effective_from_1 6_February_2022_v7.082_(2).pdf It has been confirmed that this will apply retrospectively to all cases/household contacts

currently isolating.

Vaccination status does not change any of these steps.

Isolation guidance for a positive case differs for healthcare workers if their ability to work is critical to service continuity, and if the worker is asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and improving (i.e. they are not acutely unwell). Similarly, guidance also changes for close and casual contacts who are health workers and need to return to work ASAP. Please view Table 1 and 2 in this guidance document: https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/pages/guidance-for-situations-wherehealthcare-workers-are-covid-19-cases-or-contacts-during-an-omicron-outbreak16feb2022.pdf

2.

Do we have to call all positive cases from 16 February 2022?

At Phase 2 we are still calling each patient for an initial assessment but prioritising on going checks and care for high risk patients. As we move towards Phase 3 we move more into self-management and escalation only as required. Our local clinical self-service pathway is: 1) For urgent or emergency care phone 111 2) If you have a healthcare provider such as a GP or Hauora you can phone them 3) If you are not able to reach your healthcare provider phone healthline 24hrs on 0800 358 5453 for health advice 4) If you’re not sure who to call, contact the health navigator team between 8am-8pm, 7 days a week and they can point you in the right direction, West BOP: 0800 798 729 and East BOP: 0800 633 277

3.

How are patients flagged as ‘high need’ after their self assessment to indicate a clinical review is needed?

We are still waiting to hear back how this actually looks for GPs to understand how they will know who to prioritise.

4.

What is the new risk acuity score?

Details will be available through HealthPathways once this is localised 5.

How are RATs used in Phase Two?

At Phase 2 PCR is still the standard diagnostic test. However RATs may be used at clinician discretion (subject to availability of RATs) as an alternative to PCR testing for symptomatic and close contact priority populations – see following link for Priority Populations At Phase 2 any positive RAT needs to be followed up with PCR. This will change at Level 3 We have not seen information on differences for claim rates for RAT vs PCR so existing Covid testing claims rates continue to apply.

RATs can also be used to enable critical workers to remain at work if they are a close contact, as per the Test to Return and Close Contact Exemption Scheme. (see point 1)

The following is taken from the Test to Return website: “During Phases Two and Three of the Omicron response, workers at registered critical services who are vaccinated and asymptomatic close contacts of a COVID19 case will be able to continue to work, as long as they return a negative rapid

antigen test prior to each day/shift they are at work during the isolation period, and follow specific health protocols.”

6.

Is any surveillance testing happening at Phase 2?

From Phase 2 there will start to be a move for ongoing asymptomatic surveillance testing, as specified under the Required Testing Order, to RATs. Surveillance testing (i.e. regular testing for employees who do not have symptoms and are not close contacts) for industry and the business sector is outside the requirements and is not part of the public health response. This means the test is not publicly funded. If a business wishes to complete surveillance testing this needs to be privately funded through private laboratories and testing providers.

We are strongly encourgaed to discontinue other asymptomatic surveillance testing unless recommended by the Ministry of Health to preserve Pathlab capacity.

NB: Tests for healthcare workers (for any reason) should be notated as such and kept separate from all other test samples to ensure prioritization is identified and applied.

7.

Are household contacts managed the same as close contacts with respect to the Close Contact Exemption Scheme– and if so do they have to do it for 10 days (the same as the isolation rules) rather than the 7 which applies to the close contacts?

Household contacts can also remain at work under the Critical Worker Exemption process provided they meet the criteria of being asymptomatic and fully vaccinated but will need to complete 10 days of daily RAT testing aligned with the active cases isolation period.

It is important to note that the Close Contact Exemption Scheme should only be utilised when a worker is unable to work from home, there is no one else able to fill the role and the viability of the business is threatened

8.

Has the key date for calculating isolation and release dates now changed to the day the positive test was conducted?

Calculating Day 0 still stays the same, the self-assessment tool includes symptom onset or positive swab.

Probable cases – this is the day of symptom onset and we are still unclear of the process. At this stage of the response please inform TTO if there is a probable case in the household so that they can ensure that a “Case” record is created in NCTS for national data collection of case numbers – there is likely to be a change to this going forward to make it more streamlined.

9.

What communications will patients be getting?

Texts to notify patients they are positive are now live. In the text patients will be directed to a self assessment form and a webpage that includes localized information about services.

For the BOP the information is as follows 1) For urgent or emergency care phone 111 2) If you have a healthcare provider such as a GP or Hauora you can phone them 3) If you are not able to reach your healthcare provider phone healthline 24hrs on 0800 358 5453 for health advice 4) If you’re not sure who to call, contact the health navigator team between 8am-8pm, 7 days a week and they can point you in the right direction, West BOP: 0800 798 729 and East BOP: 0800 633 277