Pleasingly, we’re seeing a significant reduction in COVID cases across Victoria, which has been reflected in Western Health’s number of COVID inpatients and furloughed staff. With the decrease in cases, we are now in a position to ease some of the restrictions in place during the most recent surge.
Easing of restrictions across sites
Education and training
Face-to-face mandatory training, skills-based training, workshops and forums can be delivered face to face where beneficial without the need for additional approval.
Meetings and staff forums
Meetings and high-value staff forums such as team building and planning sessions can be delivered face to face without the need for additional approval.
Please continue to respect COVIDSafe practices of maintaining 1.5m physical distance from others and wearing a mask during any face to face sessions. If you are required to wear an N95 mask anywhere, you must wear it everywhere while at work (unless in break areas or in an office on your own). Non-clinical staff must continue to wear surgical masks.
Remote working
Staff working from home who can return to site should discuss the feasibility of this with their managers, given space limitations and ongoing requirements for physical distancing.
The Keeping Safe at Work QRG has been updated to reflect these eased restrictions.
Remaining restrictions and practices in place:
- No change to visitation restrictions. These continue to be 2 visitors maximum per day for a maximum of 2 hours unless an exemption is in place for end-of-life care, provision of care or compassionate grounds. Exemptions are still required for visitors who have COVID risk factors
- Visitor and outpatient screening on entry via electronic attestation
- Visitors and outpatients wearing KN94 masks as a condition of entry
- RAT testing for visitors to New Born services, oncology, palliative care and rehabilitation
- Staff must continue to wear PPE in line with WH PPE Guidelines
- Physical distancing requirements of 1.5m should be maintained where feasible
- Maintaining good hand hygiene.
The opening hours of the Sunshine staff COVID Testing Clinic are changing to Monday to Friday opening 8am to 4.30pm, closed on weekends. We will review and respond according to any changes in risk or demand.
Regards
John
Chief Operating Officer