Guidance for Preventing and Controlling COVID-19 Outbreaks in New Zealand Aged Residential Care
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Guidance for preventing and controlling COVID-19 outbreaks in New Zealand aged residential care v5, 14082020 This document is based on guidance developed by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) and adapted for New Zealand. The document incorporates guidelines from various health authorities including the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention andContents guidance from the New Zealand Ministry of Health. The guidance provided is based on the available evidence at the time of completion. Guidance is not intended to be a substitute for advice from other relevant sources, such as health professionals, your local district health board (DHB), public health units (PHU), or the Ministry of Health. Clinical judgement and discretion may be required in the interpretation and application of guidance. Health and disability providers should regularly review the Ministry of Health guidelines for health professionals relating to the management of COVID-19 in New Zealand health and disability settings. PHARMAC is publishing updates on supply and other medicine issues on its website: COVID-19: PHARMAC’s response. General guidance for the public is available on the Government COVID-19 website and in the New Zealand National Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan. You can also subscribe to the National Health Coordination Centre updates. Contact your local DHB for advice about local support and procedures being put in place to support continuity of care for those receiving aged residential care services. For specific questions about a resident’s or staff member’s health related to COVID-19, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additional tools, resources and templates for use in the aged residential care setting can be found on the Health Quality & Safety Commission website. Version note Changes in this version: Updated: • link to Ministry of Health guidance • link to revised case definition • signs and symptoms to reflect Ministry of health guidance • link to shared goals of care template • link to guidance for managing staff with suspected, probable or confirmed COVID-19 • guidance for declaring an outbreak over • Appendix 1: declaring an outbreak over. Added: • link to the New Zealand COVID-19 pandemic plan • link to the World Health Organization hand hygiene poster • link to frequently asked questions about personal protective equipment and COVID-19 • link to staff risk assessment form • link to guidance about how to keep your home bubble safe • link to COVID-19 cluster investigation and control guidelines • link to general information about standard precautions • link to Ministry of Health COVID-19 general cleaning and disinfection advice • strategies to support family and whānau to maintain contact with residents • link to resident admission screening form. Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1 COVID-19 outbreaks .................................................................................................................................................1 Legal and compliance framework ..........................................................................................................................1 Roles and responsibilities ....................................................................................................................................... 2 Aged residential care facility.......................................................................................................................... 2 The public health unit (PHU) ....................................................................................................................... 2 The DHB planning and funding team .......................................................................................................... 3 Understanding COVID-19 ........................................................................................................................ 4 Recognising COVID-19 ............................................................................................................................................4 Incubation period...................................................................................................................................................... 5 Routes of transmission ............................................................................................................................................ 5 People at risk of complications from COVID-19 ............................................................................................... 5 Complications of COVID-19 .................................................................................................................................. 5 Preparedness and prevention ................................................................................................................. 6 Preparation .................................................................................................................................................................6 Prepare an outbreak management plan ......................................................................................................6 Education ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 Appropriate use of PPE ...........................................................................................................................................8 Conserving PPE ................................................................................................................................................8 Resident care plans, EPOA, and shared goals of care ............................................................................8 Workforce management .................................................................................................................................9 Prevention ...................................................................................................................................................................9 Prevention of spread within and between facilities .................................................................................9 Management of infection prevention and control in dementia care settings ....................................... 10 Isolation within the dementia care setting ............................................................................................... 11 Identifying COVID-19 ..............................................................................................................................13 Testing for COVID-19 ..............................................................................................................................................13 Notification ...............................................................................................................................................................13 Declaring an outbreak ...........................................................................................................................................13 Establishing an outbreak management team ...........................................................................................13 COVID-19 outbreak investigation plan ............................................................................................................. 14 Notification – resident and facility GPs and NPs ............................................................................................ 14 COVID-19 outbreak management plan ...............................................................................................15 Response to a suspected case of COVID-19 in a resident ............................................................................15 Response to an outbreak of COVID-19 ..............................................................................................................15 Implementing infection prevention and control measures ...........................................................................15 Standard precautions ......................................................................................................................................15 Isolation and grouping of residents .............................................................................................................15 Clinical management .................................................................................................................................... 16 Environmental cleaning and disinfection .................................................................................................. 16 Signage ...............................................................................................................................................................17 Visitors and communal activities ................................................................................................................17 Admissions and transfers ............................................................................................................................. 18 Guidance for preventing and controlling COVID-19 outbreaks in New Zealand aged residential care i Monitoring outbreak progress ...........................................................................................................................