Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 Update 14 July 2021

Published 22nd July 2021

NSW Health - Public Health Order

The screening advice for residential aged care facilities and home care service providers has been updated for 13 July 2021. 

The key message for this update is that the Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Amendment (No 6) Order 2021 commences today, Wednesday 14 July 2021. The Amending Order details a surveillance testing program for certain workers. Under the Amending Order:

• For workers who live in the local government area of Fairfield and their employers:

  • An affected worker must not enter premises for work in a local government area outside of Fairfield unless the worker has, within the past 72 hours, been tested for COVID-19 and has evidence of the test available for inspection by their employer or a police office, and
  • The employer must not permit an affected worker to remain at the premises unless the worker has been tested in accordance with these requirements.

• For workers who live in Greater Sydney (including Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour) and their employers:A person must provide information, including proof of address and proof the person has been tested for COVID-19 to a police officer on request in order to enable the officer to determine whether the person is an affected worker or a Greater Sydney worker.

  • A Greater Sydney worker must not enter premises for work that are more than 50 kilometres outside Greater Sydney unless the worker has been tested for COVID-19 in the previous 7 days and has evidence of the test available for inspection by their employer or a police office, and
  • The employer must not permit a Greater Sydney worker to enter the premises unless the worker has been tested in accordance with these requirements.

Staff must always carry evidence (an SMS text message or email from the testing organisation) that this test has been taken. Employers will need to check testing before staff are permitted to work.

In addition facilities located in the City of Fairfield (Fairfield LGA) should consider regular COVID-19 testing every 3 days of staff who live and work in facilities in Fairfield LGA.

This information can change rapidly so please check the NSW Health at least daily for updates.

QLD CHO Update

The Premier and Chief Health Officer have confirmed that restrictions for south-east Queensland, Townsville and Palm Island are expected to ease from 6am Friday 16 July 2021.

For residential aged care these areas will no longer be declared as Restricted Areas for the purposes of the Residential Aged Care Direction.  From 6am Friday 16 July 2021 general visitors will be permitted and residents will be permitted to leave for any reason.  The screening criteria on entry will still apply.

There is further information about the easing of restrictions available on the Qld Health website.

State and territory aged care COVID-19 information

As the COVID-19 situation can change rapidly, aged care providers are reminded to stay up to date on visitor restrictions, PPE requirements and other measures relating to COVID-19 in aged care, from their relevant state or territory website below:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Source:
Unknown Author, 2021, Department of Health (https://www.health.gov.au/)