COVID-19 updates
Always use The Ministry of Health website as the source of correct and up to date information
Please note that the advice for primary care may change at any time. It is crucially important to obtain a travel history from any patient with respiratory infection to determine history of travel to Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in the 14 days prior to symptom onset. continued...
All patients with respiratory infection and recent travel history as above should be provided with a surgical mask upon entry to the facility. For potential cases of novel coronavirus infection, include contact and droplet precautions, such as personal protective equipment (PPE). Please ensure all reception staff are obtaining travel history over the phone. Consider putting a poster up on your front door asking patients to immediately inform reception if they are unwell with a flu-like illness and fever and recent history of travel to Wuhan, China. Undertake an assessment in a private room with the door closed. Assess the patients need for hospitalisation. If a case of 2019-nCoV infection is suspected, requests for laboratory testing in Primary Health Care should be done in consultation with the local medical officer of health. Red flags requiring hospitalisation are;
Patients not requiring hospitalisation: Where community care is safe and appropriate no diagnostic testing is required, patients should stay at home avoiding contact with others until one day after the symptoms settle. To reduce risk of transmission in the community avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections and frequent hand-washing, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment is important. People with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, and wash hands) and stay home if unwell. Aerosol-generating procedures should be avoided in Primary Health Care. The patient should contact their doctor or call HealthLine if they deteriorate. Patient not requiring hospitalisation BUT with a history of close contact with a symptomatic confirmed case in the 14 days prior to symptom onset (irrespective of the travel history)
Patients requiring hospitalisation:
Thank you, further advice will be issued when necessary. Damian Tomic Clinical Director Strategy, Funding and Primary Care Waikato DHB Level 1 | Waiora CBD | 87 Alexandra St | Hamilton 3240 Phone: (07) 834 3600 ext: 97600 | Mob: 027 590 1242 | Email: Damian.Tomic@waikatodhb.health.nz Comments are closed.
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