COVID-19 update 314 | 07/01/2022

Louise O’Riordan Metro North Health Incident Controller

Dear Colleagues,

It’s been a huge first week of 2022 for the health service and my message today contains lots of important information. Thank you to everyone who has worked tirelessly this week with all of the changes that have come our way and who have continued to deliver exceptional care for our patients and community. Today I’ll touch on:

• Kippa Ring vaccination clinic for 5-11 year-olds
• Fever clinics and staff swab collection
• Return to work requirements for staff
• Staff support hotline

Kippa Ring Community Vaccination Clinic

We’re excited to be vaccinating our first 5-11 year-olds on Monday at our Kippa Ring Community Vaccination Clinic. It will open seven days a week, with the first appointment at 8.20am and the last appointment at 3.50pm.

Fever clinics and staff swab collection services

The RBWH public fever clinic has now closed and relocated to a drive-through clinic at QUT Kelvin Grove. The clinic successfully opened today and will be open from 8am to 8pm seven days a week.

As a reminder, staff only COVID testing collection services are running across our facilities and are open to all Metro North staff members:

• RBWH Education Centre, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.15pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am to 2pm. Eligible close contact staff are entitled to one RAT if they meet the requirements.
• TPCH located in Outpatients B (former Children’s Outpatients Department), Monday to Friday, 7am to 2pm
• Caboolture Hospital staff carpark, Monday to Sunday, 7.30am to 5pm

Return to work guidelines for staff

New guidelines released today detail a process under our current Tier 3 situation for both close contacts and positive asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. These are outlined below.

Close contacts or those who have had high-risk exposure:

1. Isolate immediately.
2. Day 6 rapid antigen test (RAT).
3. Return to work on Day 8 if day 6 RAT is negative.
4. If able to return to work:

wear a surgical mask* or P2/N95* respirator at all times for 14 days post-exposure in indoor spaces, including staff only spaces, unless;

• eating/drinking
• be alert to mild symptoms and get a PCR test if symptomatic
• limit work to a single site/area wherever possible
• additional surveillance testing such as regular RATs.

* P2/N95 if in clinical areas at Metro North

Positive cases who are asymptomatic:

1. Isolate for 7 days.
2. Return to work on day 8.
3. Be alert to mild symptoms and isolate if becomes symptomatic (in accordance with relevant Public Health Direction).
4. Comply with PPE requirements.
5. Wear a surgical mask* or P2/N95* respirator at all times for up to 14 days post day of COVID-19 test in indoor spaces.
6. No shared breakrooms.

* P2/N95 if in clinical areas at Metro North

Staff support hotline

A staff support hotline has been established to provide return to work advice and guidance on available leave entitlements for all staff, including those who are COVID positive or close contacts. In this changing environment we want to ensure that staff feel supported and reduce any unnecessary stress. The aim is to ensure all staff can easily pick up the phone and receive the advice they need. The hotline can be accessed at 07 3646 5500.

Staff should also refer to Metro North’s COVID page on the extranet for the latest COVID related information:

Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS)

COVID-19 – Extranet (health.qld.gov.au)

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work through this together

Kind regards,

Louise O’Riordan

Metro North Health Incident Controller

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Helpful links

• Upload evidence of your vaccine
• Qld Health contact tracing list
• Register for your vaccine
• Qld Health general COVID-19 page
• Metro North COVID-19 extranet
• COVID vidcast recordings on QHEPS

Metro North HHS – overview of cases*

Norfolk Island – overview of cases****

*As at the above date

**Metro North Health has four recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)

*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North Health.

**** As part of an Intergovernmental Agreement, from 1 January 2022 Metro North Health is providing a number of health support services to Norfolk Island. This includes advice and support to staff on island in terms of managing COVID patients.  The numbers in this section of the table refer to COVID patients who remain on Norfolk Island and are receiving direct care by staff on Norfolk Island.