Dear colleagues,

Metro North is currently in Tier 1 of our COVID and Influenza Response Plan. We are reviewing weekly. Please see the updated guide for transmission based precautions for COVID-19 for PPE requirements.

Isolation period changes – UPDATED

From 6pm today changes will come into effect for the Management of Diagnosed Cases of COVID-19 and Close Contacts Direction to reduce the isolation period from seven to five days. This is in line with the Commonwealth Government and Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) recommendations.

Hospitals, aged care facilities, disability accommodation facilities are still considered vulnerable facilities. This means that although staff can leave isolation after five days if they have no symptoms, they cannot enter our facilities until after day 7.

Further to my earlier message, under the updated Management of Diagnosed Cases of COVID-19 and Close Contacts Direction, from 6pm today, visitors are not able to enter our facilities until after day 10 from the start of isolation.

Visitors to hospitals, residential aged care facilities, and shared disability accommodation services:

• Cannot attend these settings as a visitor while in isolation, unless and exemption of exception applies (eg end of life visit); and
• Following isolation, visitors:
  • Must wear a face mask for five full days post-isolation, and
  • Cannot visit a hospital, residential aged care facility, or shared disability accommodation service for five full days post-isolation, with the current exceptions for visits still applying (eg end of life and compassionate circumstances). This exclusion includes staff who may visit these settings in their private capacity.

All other isolation requirements will remain the same.

Face masks direction

The Chief Health Officer has also revoked the requirement to wear face masks on domestic flights.

Masks are still required indoors for hospitals and healthcare settings, residential aged care and disability accommodation facilities, corrective services facilities, and on public transport and commercial passenger vehicles, where a person is outside of their home and has COVID-19 symptoms or is awaiting the results of a PCR test, or where directed to by an emergency officer (public health).

I will update you of any changes to face masks and PPE requirements.

Useful links

• Find a PCR test provider (including drive through, bulk bill, four-plex) on the Queensland Government website. The site also includes locations for RAT kits for eligible commonwealth concession card holders.

• People with respiratory symptoms can make an appointment (often same day) through GP Respiratory Clinics.
• You can find a COVID vaccine provider using the Department of Health COVID Vaccine Clinic Finder website.

Your GP can also provide:

• COVID-19 vaccination
• Referral for COVID-19 and other respiratory virus PCR
• Assessment and management of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses
• Prescription of COVID-19 oral antivirals for eligible COVID-19 positive patients.

Regards,

Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller