25 March 2020

Good morning!

A very short message to highlight that overnight there was an update to the National Guidelines for COVID-19 Case Definition[1].   From a practical perspective, this means slight changes to our approach to testing in Hospital, in our Emergency Departments and Fever Clinics and changes for healthcare workers.

We are rapidly reviewing and updating all of our relevant documentation which will be published by midday today to facilitate implementation of these changes at the front-line.

I draw to your attention that healthcare workers with acute respiratory symptoms should stay at home until your symptoms have resolved.  For those healthcare workers that meet the criteria of testing[2], please promptly present to one of our Fever Clinics, or via your usual healthcare provider (call ahead first to see if they can support your care) for assessment.

You can find links to all necessary information for testing and home isolation from our website.

Until tonight ?

Kind regards,

Dr Liz Rushbrook

Metro North Health Incident Controller

[1] https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/7A8654A8CB144F5FCA2584F8001F91E2/$File/interim-COVID-19-SoNG-v2.3.pdf

[2] Fever of 38 degrees of higher OR history of fever (e.g. night sweats, chills) OR acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat)