Letter Ashley Bloomfield 30th October 2020

30th October 2020 COVID-19 testing update: revised Higher Index of Suspicion (HIS) criteria, focus on symptomatic and targeted asymptomatic people Kia ora koutou, Thank you for your continued hard work to maintain our testing numbers and ensuring New Zealanders have easy access to testing.

For the period 2-15 November, we’ll continue to focus testing on the Auckland region, particularly testing among Māori and Pacific communities and those who may have been exposed as part of the recent Port-related cases.

These Port-related cases are the first community cases since 25 September 2020. They are not related to the two earlier clusters in Auckland, both of which are now contained with no recent associated cases. Case-contact investigations are underway for these latest cases.

The current full advice is available here. The key points are: 1. We continue our focus on quickly identifying any undetected community transmission both in Auckland and the rest of New Zealand, with DHBs asked to support seven-day-a-week access to testing.

2. Community testing needs to continue right across New Zealand, with a particular focus on increased access in Auckland, and for testing for workers in industries who have contact with travellers from Auckland.

3. Māori and Pacific communities should continue to be prioritised, and Māori testing rates are to be lifted, following a drop in recent weeks.

4. DHBs need to offer a good mix of testing sites to ensure that access to testing is not a barrier. All DHBs should have non-GP based testing options and where non-GP options are not available in locations that have hospitals, it is expected that Emergency Departments are able to undertake swabbing 24/7.

5. We need to continue to provide reassurance that the border is secure, including working to embed the updated testing regime at the border.

6. Anyone with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should be tested as a priority, as well as those that meet HIS criteria and have atypical symptoms, irrespective of region.

7. We have expanded the Higher Index of Suspicion criteria to include anyone who has exited an MIQ facility within the last 14 days, excluding recovered cases.

8. We have removed the Auckland-based advice around offering testing in primary care to asymptomatic individuals (with no HIS criteria) considered at greater risk of poor health outcomes.

9. Asymptomatic testing should be focused on groups at higher risk of exposure.

10. Anyone hospitalised with a severe acute respiratory infection should be tested for SARS-CoV-2, irrespective of region.

As always, the assessment and testing for COVID-19 is at no cost to individuals.

We are in the process of reviewing the mid-term national testing strategy with input from primary care representatives and will share it with you once this is completed.

Thank you again for the important part you play in supporting the health and well-being of New Zealanders. We appreciate your continued partnership in our response.

Kind regards, Dr Ashley Bloomfield Director-General of Health