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Your email address will not be published.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

Andrew Kinkade to finish Newmarch role a month early

The independent adviser appointed to help Newmarch House manage its COVID-19 outbreak will leave his post more than a month earlier than anticipated. My Kinkade was appointed by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission on 7 May for a three-month term. However, Janet Anderson, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, wrote to the Newmarch House community... Read More

Bupa closes doors as former staff member tests positive to COVID-19 

Bupa Clayton has closed its doors to visitors after a former employee tested positive to COVID-19 following routine testing. Bupa issued a statement thanking employees, residents and families for their support and understanding during the “stressful and anxious” time. The former employee worked their last shift at Bupa Clayton on Thursday, 4 June, and is... Read More

Why should some aged care staff receive retention bonus but not others?

  Laundry staff, cleaners and kitchen staff working in residential aged care will not receive the government’s retention bonus, even though home care workers performing similar duties are entitled to the payment. On 20 March, the government announced it will pay a ‘retention bonus’ to aged care workers to help providers keep staff employed through... Read More
Advertisement
Exit mobile version