COVID supply chain update

Kia ora koutou, As we begin Phase Three of the Omicron Response and observe increasing COVID-19 positive case numbers, we wanted to provide an update on the status of PPE, RATs, COVID-19 Supply Chain and domestic freight delays. The Ministry’s warehouse and logistics suppliers are currently dispatching 1,000+ pallets of PPE and RATs each week to support the Health and Disability sector. This is approximately 10,000 individual order lines to more than 2,000 locations across the motu each week. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve dispatched more than 8 million RATs, with approx. 2 million (200+ pallets) being dispatched on Thursday & Friday 24/25 February alone. DHBs/community collection sites have received more than 3 million RATs; Aged Care more than 1 million; General Practice and Urgent Care more than 800,000; Pharmacy more than 600,000 RATs; and First responders and other government agencies have received more than 650,000 RATs to date. In the last fortnight we’ve responded to over 300 ‘urgent/critical’ requests for PPE or RATs as part of the COVID-19 outbreak. These are one off orders related to shortages and exposure events. Each time this happens, resource is diverted from regular activities and urgent courier is utilised. Note this figure does not include the delivery of pulse oximeters in the Auckland region and does not include other urgent orders that have been prioritised e.g. the urgent dispatch of RATs to every general practice and urgent care in the country. There are significant delays in the domestic freight and courier network resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak. We have experienced delays to deliveries in every COVID-19 outbreak to date. Absenteeism at the Ministry’s own warehouses is around 20-25% and we understand this is similar, if not worse, at other points of the supply chain. The Ministry’s main warehouse and distribution centres are located in South Auckland and Christchurch and we anticipate disruptions to continue over the next month, consistent with disruptions that are being experienced through New Zealand’s supply chains currently. This week Kiwi Express (Sub60) paused business for all non-health related customers for 3 days in order to prioritise the distribution of PPE and Rapid Antigen Tests. New Zealand Couriers have warned the public of delays and the significant impact they expect COVID-19 to have on their workplace. We’re working to manage expectations for non-urgent orders for PPE and note that in some instances it may take two weeks for goods to be delivered. The Ministry has previously encouraged health and disability sector providers to hold at least 1-2 weeks of PPE for outbreak scenarios, and to order product early to ensure that new stock arrives before the current stock runs out. Note we do not have the capacity to investigate late deliveries of individual orders outside of special circumstances. The Ministry have worked to process push orders where possible, to ease congestion at the warehouse and optimise the use of courier and freight networks. We’ve also tried to pre-empt the requirements of the sector for RATs and PPE by frontloading organisations and reducing the need for urgent supplies on a large scale. In the previous few weeks, the Ministry has worked with sector representatives to ensure that P2/N95 particulate respirators are accessible for those engaging with those at high risk of having COVID-19, per the previous iteration of the IPC guidance. To prepare the sector for the current increase in COVID-19 positive cases and Phase Three of Omicron, we have actioned the below: