As the COVID outbreak in Queensland and northern NSW continues to evolve, the following guidance now applies to all Western Health staff and visitors.
RED ZONE AREAS – Greater Brisbane and Moreton Bay regions in Qld
- Any staff who were in these areas on or since Monday, March 12 are asked to NOT attend work for 14 days since their last exposure, contact COVID Staff Enquiries at whscovid-19staffclinicenquiries@wh.org.au and seek COVID testing ASAP.
- Any staff who transited through Brisbane airport but otherwise did not visit Moreton Bay or Greater Brisbane should get a COVID test and can return to work after receiving a negative result.
ORANGE ZONE AREAS – Byron Bay NSW and Gladstone Region in Qld
- For staff who have visited these regions on or since March 26:
- If you have visited the specific exposure locations listed on the NSW or Queensland websites, you must quarantine and NOT attend work for 14 days;
- If you have been to the orange zone, but not a specific exposure site, you must get a COVID test and quarantine until you receive your result.
Please also contact COVID Staff Enquiries at whscovid-19staffclinicenquiries@wh.org.au
Staff members who visited any locations identified as specific exposure sites must quarantine for 14 days since they last visited that location. Please follow the Victorian Department of Health guidance. The lists of affected sites in Queensland and NSW are being regularly updated, so please check the sites at least twice a day.
COVID Testing
Operating hours for the Sunshine Hospital Respiratory Assessment Clinic are: 10am-5.30pm, 7 days a week.
Western Health staff can access the clinic via the Pod 1 entrance via the main hospital (outside lifts 16 and 17 of the Acute Services Building).
COVID Screening
As part of COVID Screening, all patients, outpatients and visitors should be screened prior to entry and asked whether they have visited the Greater Brisbane or Morton Bay on or since Monday, March 12.
If a patient, outpatient or visitor discloses that they have visited Greater Brisbane or Morton Bay on or since Monday 12 March, please contact the De-isolation HMO on 8395 9048 or on switch 8345 6666 so further risk assessment can be conducted.
We appreciate that staff may have travel plans to travel to Queensland and that the current situation may be creating some anxiety. Those intending to go to Queensland should be aware of the risk at present and that they may need to get tested and quarantine on return to Victoria.
Please continue to keep yourselves informed of the Victorian Department of Health’s rapidly changing travel advice.
Regards
Natasha