Outpatient studies are paused to focus on COVID-19 and ICU studies

New Zealand has had its first 2 cases of probable community transmission of COVID-19, in other words, cases which are not linked to travel. We have been preparing for this, and as planned, will pause all outpatient studies for now to protect our volunteers and staff.

Over the past few weeks, we have been hard at work to establish COVID-19 research networks connecting the efforts of teams in the community, hospitals, and intensive care units across New Zealand. These will be our focus for the time being to build robust evidence for the safest and most effective way to tackle the virus.

The outpatient studies are paused, not cancelled. Team members from individual studies will reach out to participants in the coming days with more information about specific studies, and to cancel any arranged appointments. We will resume these studies when the situation allows.

Thank you for your patience, and vital contributions to healthcare knowledge through participation to date. In the meantime, let’s all do our part by sensible social distancing, hand washing, and looking out for friends and whānau.

All the best from the MRINZ team