Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 update 390 | 12/04/2022
Dear colleagues,
- Move to Tier 4
- Mask requirements
- Staff testing clinics
There are 7882 new COVID cases reported in Queensland.
Move to Tier 4
We are continuing to see an increase in COVID patients in our care. We currently have 756 COVID patients, including 123 inpatients with 4 in ICU.
Metro North is currently negotiating private providers for surge capability where appropriate. We have opened additional COVID capacity in our facilities.
There are 916 staff out of the workplace as close contacts or COVID positive. So far 165 staff have returned under the Critically Essential Worker requirements.
At 4pm today we will move to Tier 4 in our COVID response plan.
For Wednesday and Thursday, all planned care is cancelled, including virtual outpatient appointments, unless there is a risk of imminent harm.
It is critical we release staff to assist with urgent care.
Next week we intend to recommence category 1 planned care and category 4 endoscopies.
Face to face training is cancelled, except at the elbow education support for junior staff in clinical areas. Essential virtual training can recommence next week.
Vaccinated students in N95s can continue.
Visitors are allowed in line with the Chief Health Officer’s direction.
Mask requirements
Community restrictions are changing from 1am this Thursday, however Metro North is still in the high risk category for PPE requirements.
Facemasks and appropriate PPE are mandatory across all of Metro North. Vaccination and check in requirements will remain for healthcare facilities, aged and disability care accommodation, and prisons.
Staff testing clinics
If you have any COVID symptoms, please get tested. Staff can access PCR tests at TPCH and Redcliffe fever clinics. Other sites have RAT kits available. Details of where to get a COVID test are available on the COVID extranet.
Regards,
Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller
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Current Metro North Health tier activated – from 4pm 12 April Tier 4
Helpful links
- Register your positive RAT result
- Upload evidence of your vaccine or booster
- Vaccination locations
- Qld Health general COVID-19 page
- Metro North COVID-19 extranet
- COVID vidcast recordings on QHEPS
Metro North HHS – overview of cases*
| Patients managed by HHS | Fever clinics | ||||||
| Total in-patients | Virtual ward/ HITH/ similar | Deaths** | No. of clinics | Presentations | |||
| Total | ICU patients | Yesterday | |||||
| ICU not ventilated | ICU ventilated | ||||||
| 123 | 3 | 1 | 633 | 56 | 3 | 169 | |
Norfolk Island – overview of cases***
| Patients managed by HHS | Close Contacts in quarantine | ||||||
| Total in-patients | Virtual ward/ HITH/ similar | Total cases including recovered | Deaths | ||||
| Total | ICU patients | ||||||
| ICU not ventilated | ICU ventilated | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 194 | 0 | 24 | |
*As at the above date
**Metro North Health has recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)
*** 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.