Today the Victorian Department of Health has downgraded the COVID risk rating for all metropolitan health services, including Western Health. This means that we are once again operating under the COVID Alert (Amber) rating, and that several restrictions can be eased across our organisation as a result:
- Staff are now permitted to move and work across our sites, but should limit movement to a maximum of two sites per day, unless necessary for clinical reasons. All staff must complete the Daily Staff Symptom Check and Attendance log before beginning work at each site.
- Interpreters can return to face-to-face interpreting
- Cafes are open to visitors
- Face-to-face education for skills-based training, competency assessment and workshops is permitted. However education and training that can be provided virtually should continue to be conducted online.
- No change to visitation guidelines, which remain restricted to permitted purposes, and a maximum of two visitors.
- Telehealth consultations are encouraged, whenever possible
- Therapy groups may recommence for inpatients, outpatients, community based rehab and hydrotherapy for patients who would otherwise deteriorate.
While it is great news that Victoria has recorded its first day of zero community transmission cases today, let’s all do our best to remain vigilant. As Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton pointed out in recent days, Victorians’ uptake of the QR system has been a key reason why we’ve been able to suppress this latest Delta outbreak. The same applies to our attestation process. This information will be absolutely vital for contact tracers – your colleagues in the Western Public Health Unit – in the event of another outbreak. Please take the time to read the questions in the attestation, as they change regularly, particularly as the COVID situations in other states continue to change.
Please also check the PPE guidelines that apply to you.
Thanks for keeping updated.
Regards
Natasha