Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 415 | 4/07/2022

Dear colleagues,

• Current situation
• Stand up Tier 3

Current situation

We are currently experiencing high numbers of COVID cases, as well as influenza, in the community.

Metro North is currently caring for 143 inpatients and 500 in the virtual ward with either COVID or influenza.

Currently we have 529 staff away from work due to either being COVID positive or requiring isolation due to being a close contact.

Stand up Tier 3

Due to significant community transmission, this morning Metro North moved to Tier 3 of the new Metro North COVID-19 and Influenza Response Plan 2022.

Under the new plan there are three response tiers, whereas the previous COVID-19 response plan had five. The plan is supported with local directorate subplans.

Metro North wide actions under Tier 3:

• High risk PPE for all clinical areas – minimum requirement is P2/N95 masks and eyewear (prioritise fit testing for new staff and annual review testing)
• Reduce and/or suspend non-urgent surgery and outpatient appointments where possible
• Review room allocation methods (as per section 5.2 in the response plan)
• Optimise Virtual Ward and HITH capacity
• Optimise Virtual ED
• Review Workforce Business Continuity Plan and consider the need for staff redeployment
• Optimise use of private hospital beds
• Pause all non-essential meetings
• Defer non-essential training
• Essential training online except where face to face is required (eg OVP, fire evacuation, ALS, BLS)
• Limit patient movement across facilities to essential movements only
• Daily IMT meetings
• Discourage staff congregation in shared spaces including tea rooms

As Metro North is no longer operating fever clinics, we are recommending people make use of GP Respiratory Clinics.

Kind Regards,

Alanna Geary
Metro North Health Incident Controller