Acute Respiratory Illness Response
Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 420 | 11/07/2022
Dear colleagues,
We currently have 751 active cases of COVID in our care, including 175 inpatients with 2 in ICU.
There are also 726 staff away from work due to either being COVID positive or requiring isolation due to being a close contact.
Over the weekend there were a few announcements including expanded criteria for accessing antivirals in the community, including:
- people over 70.
- people over 50 who have two or more risk factors,
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with two or more risk factors, and
- immunocompromised people over 18.
With the criteria for the 4th COVID vaccine dose expanded, now is the time to make sure your vaccinations are up to date. If you haven’t had your third dose, it’s important to remember that prior infection with COVID-19 does not protect you from BA.4 or BA.5 strains. Getting your third and fourth doses can protect you against severe illness.
You can find a COVID vaccine provider using the Department of Health COVID Vaccine Clinic Finder website.
Dr Krispin Hajkowicz and Madeline Hall, nurse practitioner for Queensland Adult Specialist Immunisation Service, will host our COVID-19/influenza vidcast at midday tomorrow.
Some useful resources for your friends and family:
- There are a range of PCR testing providers listed on the Queensland Government website.
- Non-urgent respiratory treatment is available through GP Respiratory Clinics.
Regards,
Mark Butterworth
Metro North Health Incident Controller