Protecting Older Australians - COVID-19 Update 21 June 2021

Published 24th June 2021

NSW – Updated advice for aged care providers

The screening advice for Residential Aged Care Providers and Home Care Providers has been updated on 19 June 2021.

• Until further notice facilities in Greater Sydney (including Nepean Blue Mountains, but excluding Central Coast and Illawarra) should follow the advice that:Until further notice Home Care provider staff working in Greater Sydney (including Nepean Blue Mountains, but excluding Central Coast and Illawarra) must wear a surgical mask.

  • All staff and visitors must wear a surgical mask
  • Only two visitors should be allowed each day
  • Visits should be in the resident’s room.

Visitors must not enter the facility at all if they:

• have been to any close or casual contact locations in NSW in the last 14 days
• have been to COVID-19 exposure locations in ACT in the last 14 days
• have been to any close or casual contact in Queensland in the last 14 days
• have been in Victorian places of high concern in the last 14 days
• have been in Greater Melbourne in the previous 14 days
• have COVID-19 symptoms - fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result.

From 1 June to 30 September 2021 visitors should not enter an aged care facility if they ;have not received a dose of the 2021 influenza vaccine, unless they meet the criteria under the exceptional and special circumstances.

Please read Exceptional circumstances for visiting an RACF.

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

ACT – CHO Updated advice

The ACT Chief Health Officer has issued an updated alert regarding the COVID-19 situation in other Australian states and territories. Please read the 20 June 2021: CHO alert for new information, the main change to the CHO advice:

• Eastern Sydney LGAs (from the 11th of June) have been added as geographical areas of risk:

  • Sydney LGAs (from the 11th of June):
  • Randwick
  • Canada Bay
  • Inner West
  • Bayside
  • City of Sydney
  • Waverley
  • Woollahra

There are a number of COVID-19 exposure locations in ACT, NSW, QLD and VIC. COVID-19 Areas of Concern are regularly updated with exposure locations.

ACT aged care providers can find out more information from ACT Government.

Qld - Updated advice for RACFs

Queensland has current contact tracing alerts and related public health advice for people who have been in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Visitors, staff or volunteers are not permitted to enter a residential aged care facility if they:

• are unwell
• have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or asked to quarantine
• have returned from overseas in the last 14 days (excluding safe travel zone countries)
• are a close contact, unless their quarantine period has ended
• have visited a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days or since the hotspot was declared (whichever is shorter)
• have visited an interstate exposure venue in the last 14 days unless an exemption has been granted for an end of life visit
• have been in an interstate area of concern in the last 14 days or since the identified start date (whichever is shorter), unless you fit into one of the categories of people who are allowed to enter a facility with a negative COVID-19 test
• have been tested for COVID-19 and is waiting for the result (except for tests due to surveillance testing obligations)
• have COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or fatigue
• have not had the 2021 flu vaccine, from 30 May 2021, if it is available to them.

You may enter a residential aged care facility if you do not fit into any of the above categories, visitors should:

• wash their hands before entering and leaving the facility
• stay 1.5 metres away from others where possible
• stay in the resident’s room, outside or in a specific area (avoiding communal spaces)
• stay away when unwell
• follow requests from the facility to help keep staff and residents safe.

For full details read the Aged Care Direction (No. 29) and stay up to date with the latest information for aged care providers on the Qld Department of Health website.

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