Advice and resources for business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We will continue to add resources to this page as we become aware of them.
Practices are under significant pressure during the Omicron outbreak and receiving complaints from patients. We have prepared two templated documents that can be used to help manage patient expectations.
Please see Patient communication - GP care during Omicron outbreak in the downloads section below. There are two versions available, one for practices using the Practice Plus after hours service, and one for those who are not.
You can add your own branding and edit these documents as needed.
To help cut any confusion on what your business is financially entitled to, try these links.
Or if you prefer to get on the phone try:
ACC is providing up to date information through it's website, giving details such as funding and claiming, telehealth and PPE use. There is also information on treatment injury cover for COVID-19 vaccination injuries.
COVID-19 uncertainty can have an impact on our mental wellbeing. It is okay to not be okay. There are many organisations and services doing mahi to support whānau mental wellbeing through COVID-19.
As announced by the Government on Monday 12 September, the COVID-19 protection framework has been ‘retired’. The revocation of the vaccination mandate for the health and disability sector workers (which includes workers in aged care and residential) took place at 11.59pm, Monday 26 September.
The mandate was introduced to protect workers in high-risk settings from COVID-19 and help prevent transmission between workers and vulnerable people. The mandate is no longer needed now the affected workforce has a very high vaccination rate (estimated to be greater than 95 percent), and vaccination has a reduced overall efficacy against Omicron transmission.
The revocation of the order applies to the remaining health and disability workers in the following settings:
All exemptions previously granted expired at 11.59pm on 26 September. This included both temporary medical exemptions and temporary serious service disruption exemptions. Exemption applications are no longer accepted.
Some businesses and organisations may choose to continue COVID-19 vaccination requirements through employment contracts - for example, the Te Whatu Ora active vaccination policies across each of the districts and entities will remain in place until a national policy has been agreed. Guidance on employment law, health and safety law and contractual requirements can be found on the following websites.
During the COVID-19 lockdown virtual consultations for POAC cases were funded. We are pleased to announce that this will be a permanent change.
Read moreTe Whatu Ora Waikato has noted the wording in their recent newsletter about the new BPAC disease notification eReferral, requires clarification. At this time COVID-19 remains a notifiable disease, but that notification does not need to come via GP practices using the BPAC form as it is generated via result uploading.
Read moreThis funding is available for a GP/NP consultation with patients eligible for an advance prescription for COVID-19 anti-viral medication, prior to them testing positive for COVID-19. There is no obligation for a clinician to issue an advance prescription.
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