This information is for GPs, hospital clinicians and their software industry partners. It should be used to record details of COVID-19 in the affected patient's health record.

Use the SNOMED CT codes in the following table for case classification. These SNOMED concepts and terms are included in the SNOMED CT New Zealand Edition. If your software does not yet support SNOMED, you will have to use an equivalent PMS code or ICD-10-AM code. 

 

Concept SNOMED CT code PMS code Medtech code Profile code ICD-10-AM
Confirmed COVID-19 840539006 - @MT0.02 COVID19-1 U07.1
Probable COVID-19 50881000210106 - @MT0.04 - U07.2
Under investigation COVID-19 840544004 - @MT0.03 COVID19-1 Z03.8
Not a case 688232241000119100 - - - -
Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 1119303003 @2201.00 @2201.00 @2201.00 U07.4
Post-COVID-19 syndrome 1119304009 @2202.00 @2202.00 @2202.00 U07.4

The named concepts follow the case definitions listed at this link and below.

Concept Definition
Ongoing symptomatic COVID-19 Signs and symptoms of COVID‑19 from 4 weeks up to 12 weeks
Post-COVID-19 syndrome Signs and symptoms that develop during or after an infection consistent with COVID‑19, continue for more than 12 weeks and are not explained by an alternative diagnosis

Coding for COVID-19 laboratory tests

The March 2020 update to the NZ Pathology Observation Code Sets (NZPOCS) adds a set of COVID-19 test codes and descriptions for laboratories to code test results. See the LOINC website for more information about the new codes.

Contact standards@health.govt.nz if you need more information.

Guidance for certifying deaths due to COVID-19

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has developed guidelines for health practitioners to use when certifying causes of death for people who died of, or with COVID-19. These guidelines are based on World Health Organization recommendations so are applicable to all countries. The guidelines can be found at Guidance for Certifying Deaths due to COVID-19.

For information about certifying documents online see Completing death documents.