Jul 31, 2020

NSW strengthens visitor and PPE guidance as COVID-19 risk escalates

Given the current risk of COVID-19 now in the community, NSW Health has extended requirements for face masks and visitation restrictions across new local government areas.

The state’s Chief Health Officer has added the local government areas of Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and the eastern part of City of Sydney to the list of regions required to implement the following measures:

  • Any visitors to any residential aged care facility who have been in the following local government areas in the previous 14 days should be excluded from the facility: Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick, eastern part of City of Sydney, Parramatta, Fairfield, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly.
  • All aged care staff who reside in the above local government areas or a NSW/VIC border community must wear a surgical mask while in the facility.
  • Staff and visitors who have visited any of the locations on the same date as a COVID-19 case (see updated list of venues and dates) should be excluded for a period of 14 days since their visit to the listed location.
  • All residential aged care staff who work in residential aged care facilities located within the above LGAs and in communities along the NSW/VIC border must wear a surgical mask while in the facility.
  • Residential aged care facilities in the above local government areas should not allow any visitors (visitors performing essential caring functions may be allowed but must wear a mask). In exceptional circumstances, seek advice from your local NSW Health public health unit on 1300 066 055.

The extension of these local government area restrictions will be in place until further notice.

Home Care Service providers who either live or work in any of these designated local government areas must also wear face masks while providing services.

Read the NSW Chief Health Officer’s letters to home care providers and residential providers.

This information was provided by the Department of Health.

Image: RyanJLane, iStock.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Aged care staff feeling excluded and angry over retention bonus

  Aged care staff have aired their frustrations on HelloCare’s pages over the government’s bungled handling of the aged care worker retention bonus. Earlier this week, the federal government announced a third retention bonus for aged care workers, but HelloCare has received hundreds, if not thousands, of comments expressing frustrations over the government’s poor delivery of... Read More

COVID-19 adding strain to aged care system already under financial pressure

The aged care sector is doing an extraordinary job rising to the challenges created by the COVID-19 crisis. Staff are on the front line, putting concerns about their own health aside as they care for those who are most at risk from the disease. But some in the industry are worried about the additional costs... Read More

Visitor code calls for compassionate approach to aged care visits during COVID-19

Aged care providers and consumer groups have agreed to an industry-wide code of conduct for visits to loved ones living in residential aged care during the COVID-19 crisis. The code came into effect on Tuesday, 12 May, but was under consultation during the previous week. It will be reviewed three weeks after implementation, on 29... Read More
Advertisement
Exit mobile version