COVID-19 Updates

A message from the President on COVID-19 – Updated 14 October 2020

The ANZSN continues to closely monitor the latest information on the COVID-19 outbreak recognising our Society’s membership is part of the medical efforts being put in place to help contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

The wellbeing of our patients, our colleagues and the broader community is foremost in our minds and our thoughts go out to all affected by and working on the front line to manage the response to the virus.

If Members have any questions or would like access to planning documents or specific expertise as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, then please contact the ANZSN Office at anzsn@nephrology.edu.au or M: +61 447 118 585.

What’s New

ANZDATA Registry report on positive SARS-CoV-2 results among the chronic dialysis and kidney transplant population in Australia and New Zealand – 13 October 2020

For Australia:

33 Confirmed cases; 13 dialysis patients and 20 kidney recipients
2 Active cases; 2 kidney recipients
8 Deaths; 7 dialysis patients and 1 kidney recipient

For New Zealand:

There remains fewer than 5 reported cases in Aotearoa New Zealand

TSANZ - Communiques
The TSANZ’s National Transplantation and Donation Rapid Response Taskforce Weekly Communique No 22 can be found here.

Joint Statement - Nephrology Societies call for ensuring optimal care to patients
with kidney diseases during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The ANZSN has joined sister renal societies in calling for action to care for patients with kidney disease in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read the joint statement here.

ANZSN and TSANZ COVID-19 Forums

No further Forums are scheduled at this time

Resources to help plan and respond to COVID-19

The ANZSN COVID-19 Working Group has developed key checklists to assist renal unit senior management teams in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand prepare for and manage the COVID-19 pandemic:

ANZSN COVID-19 Dialysis Preparedness Checklist, which can be found here;
ANZSN COVIV-19 Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Preparedness Checklist, which can be found here
ANZSN and RSA COVID-19 Workforce Preparedness Checklist - Monitoring and Managing Health Care Workers (HCWs), which can be found here.
Joint ANZSN and RSA Statement – Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) recommendations for staff and patients in haemodialysis units, which can be found here.

Other Information

Working with Governments to ensure a coordinated response
The ANZSN will continue to work with its Members and advocate with the Australian and New Zealand governments on key matters relating to COVID-19.

Working with Industry to secure dialysis supplies
We remain in contact with all the major suppliers of dialysis fluids and consumables to encourage them to review and secure their supply chains in readiness.

Keeping abreast of developments
As the situation with COVID-19 continues to unfold we encourage our Members to keep abreast of developments, particularly within your own jurisdiction.

It is recommended that you refer to your local health department website (links below) to ensure that you are accessing the most recent resources, updates and information.

New Zealand
https://www.health.govt.nz/
https://covid19.govt.nz/

The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP)
A list of the initiatives that the RACP is leading on behalf of its Members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic can be found here.

Information for patients and carers
Kidney patients and their carers can find information on COVID-19 at the following websites:

Kidney Health Australia: https://kidney.org.au/
Kidney Health New Zealand: https://www.kidney.health.nz/
Transplant Society of Australia and New Zealand: https://www.tsanz.com.au/