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Rachel Helier Donaldson
A leading epidemiologist says New Zealand’s Ministry of Health’s “business as usual” plan for dealing with Covid-19 could be risky given the resurgence of the virus.
From Monday, people aged 14 and over will have to pay for Covid-related GP visits.
Te Whatu Ora said it was part of a “business as usual” approach to funding Covid-19 services, which would start on July 1.
Dr Martin Hufford, the health board’s director of healthy living, said the plan was designed to manage Covid-19 “in a similar way to other infectious diseases”.
He added that some funded services “remain available … to help prevent and manage Covid-19 throughout the winter, particularly for those most at risk”.
These include free vaccinations and antiviral drugs for those who qualify. In early June, Health Minister Shane Reti extended the deadline for free rapid antigen tests (RAT) by three months to September 30.
Children aged 13 and under can still see a GP for free during office hours, including for treatment of Covid-19.
Asked about a “business as usual” approach, Otago University Professor Dr Michael Baker said coronavirus was different to other diseases.
“Unfortunately, the coronavirus is not spreading as normal. It’s still circulating at high levels in New Zealand, causing waves of infection, and we’ve just come out of our sixth major wave in 30 months.”
He said at the peak of the recent sixth wave in late May/early June, more than 55 people were hospitalized each day.
“The number of cases is falling now, but we’re still seeing five people dying from the infection every day in New Zealand and hundreds more being infected with long Covid.”
Baker said COVID-19 remains the number one infectious killer and the continued availability of free vaccines, antiviral drugs and testing is “very positive.”
“Those are very important tools. But obviously we do need to tailor our response to the scale of the risk. I think given how the virus is behaving right now, we should be doing more, not less, to control it.”
Baker said it was important to have a “really strong, comprehensive approach” to all respiratory infections.
“Not only does this mean individuals can get the care they need, it also protects those around them.
“Infectious diseases are really different from other health issues because they are obviously contagious and infectious. So individual actions affect us all, so we need to remove barriers and allow people to get the best possible care.
“It needs to start with prevention – getting vaccinated, taking precautions when you are sick, self-isolating, and having good access to primary care.”
Baker said many people are currently being hospitalized with respiratory infections, as is the case every winter.
“But in addition, we are seeing an uptick in COVID, with many people being hospitalized as a result.
“This is a huge problem and we really need to respond accordingly. Now is the time to take a comprehensive approach to all respiratory infections.
“We have to do better because this has significant impacts on our health, wellbeing and the productivity of our workforce, and therefore has serious economic consequences.”
Mr Baker said he hoped the government’s support for coronavirus services would continue in the long term.
He added that it was important to remember that responding to the virus was a “collaboration” between governments, health care providers and the public.
“We are all in this together and must work together.”
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