Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information

Last Updated:   29th September 2022 (at 10:01) 

** Coronavirus National Testing Programme - click HERE for full details **

 

  • Letter from Kathryn Tuner, Pharmacy Lead, SPPG, RE: COVID-19 and/or Influenza Vaccination Service for Frontline Health & Social Care Workers (HSCWS) from Local Community Pharmacies is available HERE

  • Update from GDS Correspondence, SPPG, RE: COVID-19 Testing and Isolation Guidance, and Public Health Advice for those with Symptoms of Respiratory Infection for the General Population (04.07.2022) is available HERE

  • Letter from Caroline Lappin, Chief Dental Officer, RE: Infection Prevention & Control Guidance (10.06.2022) is available HERE and the associated IPC guidance for Primary & Community Dental Settings is available HERE

  • Update from Michael O'Neill, Head of General Dental & Ophthalmic Services, RE: GDS Rebuilding Support Scheme Frequently Asked Questions (Version 1, 11.03.2022) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, Head of General Dental & Ophthalmic Services, RE: GDS Rebuilding Support Scheme (07.03.2022) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, Head of General Dental & Ophthalmic Services, RE: GDS Update - COVID-19 Financial Support (23.02.2022) is available HERE

  • Update from GDS Correspondence, HSCB, RE: Free Lateral Flow Tests (19.01.2022) is available HERE and Primary Care Lateral Flow Testing Briefing Paper (19.01.2022) is available HERE

  • Letter from Caroline Lappin, Chief Dental Officer, RE: Seasonal Respiratory Infections and COVID-19: General Dental Services - Operational Guidance (22.12.2021) is available HERE and Seasonal Respiratory Infections and COVID-19: General Dental Services - Operational Guidance Document (22.12.2021) is available HERE

  • Update from GDS Correspondence, HSCB, RE: Patient Registrations and Contractual Obligations During the Covid-19 Pandemic (22.12.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, Head of Dental Services and Daniel Bartsch, GP, Dental & Ophthalmic Service Manager, RE: Advice on Submitting Claims for Item Code 3001 (07.10.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Dental Payments Team, RE: Items of Service & COVID-19: Support Arrangements for 2021/22 (11.08.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: COVID-19 Support Arrangements for 2021/22 (09.08.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, Head of Dental Services, RE: Infection Prevention and Control Guidance (02.08.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Ms Louise McMahon, Director of Integrated Care, RE: HSC Staff - COVID-19 Recognition Payment (28.07.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: COVID-19 Financial Support to NI General Dental Practitioners (02.07.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: General Dental Services: Financial Support 2021/22 (18.06.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Donncha O'Carolan, HSCB RE: Lateral Flow Testing for Asymptomatic Patient-Facing Primary Care Staff (12.05.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Stephen Bergin, PHA RE: COVID-19 Vaccine (Astrazeneca) and Thromboembolic events with concurrent low platelet counts (20.04.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Donncha O'Carolan, HSCB RE: GDP FSS Payments (02.04.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: GDS PPE Support 2020/21 (24.03.2021) is available HERE 

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: GDS Financial Support Q1 2021-22 (19.03.2021) is available HERE

  • DoH NI Central Alert System RE: DB-2021-004 - Management and use of IVD point of care test - version 1.2 (08.03.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: COVID-19 Financial Support to General Dental Practices (Exceptional Circumstances) (05.02.2021) is available HERE

  • Preparation for the Re-Establishment of the GDS (Updated 02.02.2021) is available HERE

  • SDCEP - Mitigation of Aerosol Generating Procedures in Dentistry - A Rapid Review (Updated 25.01.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, DoH, RE: Vaccination of General Dental Practice Frontline Staff (05.01.2021) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: COVID-19 Financial Support to General Dental Services (15.12.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Donncha O'Carolan, HSCB RE: COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (14.12.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Dr Brid Farrell, PHA RE: COVID-19 Antibody Testing Study (03.12.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Clinical Audit and Peer Review Advisory Panel (24.11.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, Acting Chief Dental Officer and Donncha O'Carolan, Interim Head of Dental Services RE: Out of Hours Arrangements for Emergency Dental Care (23.11.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, DoH RE: Expression of Interest to all Dentists, Dental Therapists and Dental Hygienists to become Sessional Vaccinators to help implement the forthcoming COVID-19 Vaccination Programme (18.11.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE: COVID-19 Financial Support to General Dental Practices (16.11.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from the four UK Chief Dental Officers RE: Supporting the Dental Profession throughout the second COVID-19 Wave (11.11.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, DoH RE: Updated Northern Ireland Operational Guidance (21.10.2020) is available HERE and enclosed guidance is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH RE: COVID-19 Financial Support to General Dental Practices (16.10.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, HSCB RE: Arrangements for High Risk Patients (09.10.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, DoH RE: Seasonal Flu Vaccination for Clinical Dental Staff (23.09.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, DoH RE: Updated Northern Ireland Operational Guidance (10.09.2020) is available HERE and enclosed guidance is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael O'Neill, DoH, RE : COVID-19 Financial Support to General Dental Practices (03.09.2020) is available HERE

  • Letter from Michael Donaldson, HSCB, RE: Revised Arrangements for Urgent Dental Care (01.09.2020 to 31.03.2021) is available HERE

 

** Latest CMO Letters **

  • HSS(MD) 17/2022 - 04.05.2022 - Updated COVID Testing and Isolation Guidance for Health and Social Care Workers and Guidance on Visitor Testing is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 91/2021 - 31.12.2021 - Updated Policy for Management of Self-Isolation of Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases - Additional Safeguards for HSC Staff is available HERE and Annex A - 30.12.2021 - Contacts of COVID-19 Cases - Additional Safeguards for HSC Staff is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 85/2021 - 21.12.2021 - Updated Policy for Management of Self-Isolation of Close Contacts of COVID-19 Cases - Additional Safeguards for HSC Staff is available HERE and Annex A - 21.12.2021 - Checklist for HSC Workers who are Close Contacts of COVID is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 84/2021 - 17.12.2021 - JCVI Advice that Pregnant Women of any Age Should be Considered as a Clinical Risk Group for COVID-19 is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 83/2021 - 16.12.2021 - Update of Guidance on Clearance and Management of Healthcare Workers Living with a Bloodborne Virus (BBV) is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 82/2021 - 15.12.2021 - Suspension of the 15 Minute with MRNA Vaccine for COVID 19 is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 79/2021 - 06.12.2021 - JCVI Issues Advice on the Vaccine Response to the Omicron Variant is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 78/2021 - 26.11.2021 - Immediate Actions in Response to New Variant SARS-CoV-2 Identified is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 76/2021 - 25.11.2021 - Update from JCVI Regarding Second Doses for 16 & 17 Year Olds, Booster for 40 to 49 Year Olds & Timing of the Interval for Booster Doses HERE

  • HSS(MD) 64/2021 - 15.09.2021 - Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Programme 2021/22 is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 59/2021 - 24.08.2021 - Revised - Policy Change for HSC Staff Advised to Isolate as a Close Contact is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 59/2021 - 20.08.2021 - Policy Change for HSC Staff Advised to Isolate as a Close Contact is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 56/2021 - 06.08.2021 - Further Updated Advice from JCVI Regarding Children Aged 16 and 17 Years of Age is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 54/2021 - 03.08.2021 - Updated JCVI Advice RE: Children 12-17 Years of Age is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 49/2021 - 23.07.2021 - Fully Vaccinated Health & Social Care Staff Told to Self-Isolate as a Close Contact may be Permitted to Attend Work in Exceptional Circumstances is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 47/2021 - 23.07.2021 - Personal Protective Equipment and Heat: Risk of Heat Stress is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 94/2020 - 04.01.2021 - CMO Letters regarding the UK COVID-19 Vaccination programmes are available HERE and HERE.  A short statement from the JCVI about first dose prioritisation is also available HERE.  An extract from the CEM CMO 2020 / 044 Green Book is also available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 93/2020 - 04.01.2021 - Deployment of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine in Northern Ireland and updated JCVI advice is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 92/2020 - 04.01.2021 - New variant of SARS-COV-2 virus in South Africa - Action for Health Service in Northern Ireland is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 91/2020 - 23.12.2020 - COVID-19 Therapeutic Alert - Therapeutic Anti-Coagulation (Herparin) in the Management of Severe COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Positive Patients is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 88/2020 - 21.12.2020 - The Human Medicines (Coronavirus) (Further Amendments) Regulations is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 86/2020 - 16.12.2020 - Azithromycin in the Management of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) Positive Patients is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 85/2020 - 10.12.2020 - Adrenaline for Anaphylaxis Kits - A Reminder to Health Care Professionals is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 84/2020 - 10.12.2020 - Pfizer BioNtech COVID-19 Vaccine - Updated Guidance on Managing Allergic Reactions is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 83/2020 - 09.12.2020 - Continuation of Seasonal Flu Programme by Peer Vaccinators is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 82/2020 - 07.12.2020 - Deployment of the COVID-19 Vaccine in Northern Ireland is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 80/2020 - 06.12.2020 - Winter Vaccines and Research is available HERE and the 4 UK CMO's letter is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 79/2020 - 03.12.2020 - Confirmed Influenza Isolates in NI - NICE Guidance on Use of Antivirals Now Applies is available HERE

  • HSS(MD) 74/2020 - 08.11.2020 - Immediate Actions in response to Mink-Variant SARS-CoV-2 Virus in Denmark is available HERE

 

** Useful Links for GDPs (should be reviewed regularly) **

  • Public Health Agency (PHA) - LINK

  • UK Government Response - LINK

  • PHE Guidance to health professionals - LINK

  • PHE guidance for primary care - LINK

  • British Endodontic Society Advice - LINK

  • SDCEP Guidance - Management of Acute Dental Problems During COVID-19 Pandemic - LINK

  • Guidance on prescribing antibiotics for urgent dental care during sustained transmission of COVID 19 (joint letter from Public Health England, Royal College of Surgeons FDS, Faculty of General Dental Practice (UK) and the British Dental Association - LINK
  • Healthcare Apps Library - LINK