Reporting Deaths of COVID-19 Infected Patients: new eReferral Available 12 Apr 2022

COVID-19 is a notifiable disease.

COVID-19 is a notifiable disease.
 
Section 74 (3) of the Health Act 1956 states: "Every health practitioner who by post-mortem examination or otherwise becomes aware that any deceased person was affected with a notifiable disease shall forthwith give notice in the prescribed form to the medical officer of health."
 
To simplify this process, a new BPAC eReferral form has been created: BOPDHB - Public, Public Health, COVID-19 - Related Deaths. It can be used to notify the medical officer of health where a person who has died within 28 days of being reported as a COVID-19 case.
 
Cases require notification where the official cause of death has been coded as one of the following:

• COVID-19 was the underlying cause of death (irrespective of when the death occurred).
• COVID-19 contributed to their death (irrespective of when the death occurred).
• Still under-investigation (only if the person died within 28 days of being reporting as a case).
• Has been ruled as not due to COVID-19 (only if the person died within 28 days of being reporting as a case).

 
The information required is listed on the front page of the referral form.
 
Please contact baynav@bopdhb.govt.nz with any queries.