Minutes:
Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19
Date:
Friday 10 July 2020
Time:
10.30am – 12.00pm
Location:
Zoom Meeting
Chair:
Dr Ian Town
Members:
Dr Sal y Roberts, Prof Michael Baker, Prof Stephen Chambers, Dr Nigel
Raymond, Dr Shanika Perera, Dr David Murdoch, Dr Collin Tukuitonga, Dr
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Patricia Priest, Dr Erasmus Smit, Dr Bryan Betty
Ministry of Health Attendees:
Dr Harriette Carr, Dr Tomasz Kiedrzynski, Dr Juliet Rumbal -Smith, Asad
Abdullahi, Margaret Broodkoorn, Louise Chamberlain, Sarah Mitchel
Guests
Therese Egan
Apologies:
Dr Caroline McElnay, Dr Anja Werno, Dr Virginia Hope, Dr Matire Harwood,
Dr Richard Jaine, Dr Niki Stefanogiannis, Andi Shirtcliffe
INFORMATION
1.0
Welcome and Previous Minutes
Dr Ian Town welcomed all Members Attendees and Guests in his capacity as Chair of the
Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19.
Minutes of the last meeting (26 June 2020) were accepted.
2.0
Update on open actions
Open actions updated. Action 56 closed.
3.0
Ministry of Health update on COVID-19 response
The Chair gave an update on current issues being worked on in the Ministry:
•
Newly appointed Minister of Health very engaged and seeking assurances on the
management of MIQ risks. MBIE oversight group and Ministry are working with DHBs to
develop standard national operating protocols and procedures for MIQ facilities. Ministry
very aware of the high-risk situation and the pressure currently on staff to reduce risks in
the MIQ area.
•
Discussions with Melbourne officials on their containment processes, observations, lessons
learnt wil take place over the next few days.
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•
Marine border protocols are being adjusted to provide stricter controls
•
Ministry is considering wider national sentinel testing. Current Testing Strategy being
updated; sector engagement currently in progress.
•
A regular update to sector wil be provided on proposed changes to Testing Strategy for the
week ahead and rationale for changes.
•
Epidemiology Subgroup wil be consulted on updated Testing Strategy
TAG feedback:
•
GPs are experiencing strong resistance to testing from the public. Any communications
must give clear rationale for surveil ance testing requirements. Lack of clarity over why the
present surveil ance strategy has been chosen as opposed to a structured ILI type
approach.
o Issue has been escalated within the AOG team and Ministry Media Team and is
being worked on
• Lab issues raised:
o COVID-19 testing form does not provide option for surveil ance; resulting in
assumption that the tests are not funded
o Require clarification on testing volumes – unnecessary volume of testing being
carried out
Noted there is no set number of tests that must be achieved each day
4.0
Resurgence Planning
The Chair discussed the current planning underway to prepare the sector for a possible
resurgence of cases; including operational response planning and preparedness strategy
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• Draft Resurgence Plan due to be presented to Executive Leadership Team next week
• Principles wil be shared with TAG for feedback
• Thresholds and trigger levels wil be refined as a guideline (not widely socialised due to
potential implications)
• Use of masks to be formal y investigated as part of Level 2 control measures
TAG feedback:
• Query whether more granular alert levels are being considered eg: giving ability to shut
down high risk areas if required
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• Important to be able to be flexible within alert levels and ability to respond
o Hierarchy controls currently being led by AOG – considering balance between Public
Health benefit and economic impact. Multiple agencies have accountabilities.
• Need to ensure good relationships and communications between all agencies involved and
how modelling is being used to drive their responses
o Model ing now required is complex eg: anonymous personal data. Privacy assurance
process required
Currently network risk modelling is being developed by Shaun Hendy and his team
5.0
Vaccine Strategy
TAG was presented with an overview of the development of the Vaccine Strategy for discussion
and input.
Additional points made:
• MBIE coordinating research; focused on international relationships
• Manufacturing – upgrading procedures to bring up to human GMP standards for human
manufacture; wil be useful even if isn’t used for NZ vaccine
• Regulation – working on expediated approvals processes through Medsafe
• Purchasing – funding has been committed through Covax facility promoted by vaccine
alliance – they are likely to have arrangements with group of 10 or so vaccine
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manufacturers; aiming to supply vaccine for 20% of global population
TAG feedback:
• Query on whether measurable outcomes or targets wil be set in Strategy
o Too soon yet to set targets. Immunisation Programme wil be developed over the
coming weeks
• Is NZ vaccine manufacture realistic, given international manufacture capacity?
o not entirely tied to achieving vaccine manufacture in NZ
6.0
Aerosol generating procedures
TAG considered background, IPC advice and previous TAG recommendation, taken as read
• Principle has been agreed and IPC advice provided. Clear communications required, to
allay people’s concerns of what is mostly a smal risk ie: what is AGP, how is it managed;
noting this is broader than PPE
• Respiratory group has taken precautionary approach. Their concern about the rationale for
the use of nebulisers is not a COVID-19 issue.
TAG feedback:
• Inconsistency of wording eg nebuliser droplet vs air borne needs to be clarified
• IPC advice is foundational advice. Development of national network to inform future IPC
policies is to be progressed
• Nebulisers are no longer thought to be as risky as previously thought. In light of technical
advice, and international evidence, Ministry guidance should be refreshed and aligned. Al
guidance must include clear rationale
TAG recommendation:
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• Clear communications to sector required; Ministry guidance to be refreshed and aligned
7.0
Review of TAG and Subgroup Structure
Further discussions to be held with Subgroup Chairs next week, following agreement of new
structure from DDG
8.0
Māori health perspectives
• No update given
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9.0
Pacific health perspectives
• No update given
10.0
Subgroup verbal updates
• No updates given
10.0
Any other business
• No other business discussed
11.0
Agenda items for next meeting
• No items discussed
12.0
New Action Items raised during meeting
• No actions raised
13.0
Summary of TAG Recommendations
• Aerosol generating procedures - clear communications to sector required; Ministry
guidance to be refreshed and aligned
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14.0
Meeting closed at 11.40am
Next meeting
Friday 24 July 10.30am – 11.30am
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INFORMATION
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