COVID-19 update 351 | 12/02/2022

Dear colleagues,   

• Next week’s school pop up vaccination clinics 
• Registering your third COVID-19 vaccination 
• Mask reminder for returning workers 
• Fit testing and fit checking 
• Recording your fit testing status 
• Your nearest staff PCR and RAT service 

It is nice to be back in the Incident Controller’s chair following a short break. I hope that everyone is well and taking the time to look out for each other and themselves. 

Please find following some important updates and recaps on some of the information that has been communicated this week.  

Next week’s school pop up vaccination clinics 

We will be continuing to hold vaccination pop up clinics over the next few weeks at schools and community events, and I want to acknowledge all those staff who have put their hands up to support this important effort.  

Tomorrow, Sunday 13 February and next Sunday 20 February there will be pop up clinics at the Caboolture Showgrounds (Gamgee building) from 9.00 am – 3.00 pm, coinciding with the Caboolture Markets and Jurassic Creatures events.  

From Monday 14 February our school pop ups will continue at primary schools on weekdays and at high schools on weekends.  

The first three clinics will be at Kallangur State School and Mango Hill State School on Monday and Tuesday from 2.30 – 6.00 pm, followed by Kurwongbah State School on Wednesday and Thursday from 2.30 – 6.00 pm.    

You can find your nearest vaccination centre on the Queensland Health website.   

Registering your third COVID-19 vaccination 

I would encourage all staff who have had their booster shot to go online and register it.  

Instructions are available on the extranet on how to register your third COVID-19 vaccination. 

Mask reminder for returning workers 

As the current working from home arrangements will finish this Sunday and staff will return to their workplace from Monday, I remind all staff that facemasks are mandatory. 

Masks should be worn at all times by healthcare workers and visitors in hospitals, healthcare settings, residential aged care facilities, disability accommodations, and prisons.  

This includes when sitting at your desk, unless you are working alone in your own office. 

I encourage you to view the PPE matrix which outlines the appropriate PPE for your type of work given that Metro North region is still in the high-risk category.  

Fit testing and fit checking 

Metro North Health remains committed to prioritising fit testing for all our frontline staff. Please check the fit testing schedule on the extranet for local information.    

The National Guideline, referenced in the Queensland Health guideline, recommends that you do a fit check every time you don an N95 mask to ensure you have a good seal. In an emergent situation, if your fitted mask cannot be located, please escalate to your team leader/hospital coordinator. A fit checked P2/N95 can be worn, as a last resort, until you are fit tested. You should not participate in aerosol generating procedures if you are not wearing a fit tested mask.  

If you have any concerns about fit testing, you can submit them via the fit testing feedback portal. Urgent issues should be escalated to your supervisor and local EOC for resolution.    

Record your fit testing status 

Don’t forget to record your fit testing results directly to TMS including the masks which are a successful fit. Instructions on how to add a completed course are available on QHEPS. Line managers can then approve the completed course in TMS.  

Line managers can also add fit testing results on behalf of their staff using the instructions on QHEPS.  

Your nearest staff PCR and RAT service 

Each directorate are now managing RAT distribution for their staff. You can now collect a RAT kit from the Metro North staff collection site closest to your home if needed.   

• Community and Oral Health – Brighton Wellness Hub, 19^th Avenue Brighton, Monday to Friday 2.00 – 4.00 pm. Asymptomatic close contact staff only. RAT collection only. Contact EOC-COH outside these hours.  
• TPCH – Outpatients B, seven days 8.00 am – 12.00 pm. RAT and PCR available. Staff can also attend the public fever clinic at Building 26, Hamilton Rd, and speak to the concierge.  
• Caboolture Hospital – Staff carpark, seven days 7.30 am – 3.30 pm, PCR and RAT available. RAT kits also available after hours from EOC (phone 5316 5014), hospital coordinators, or ED triage if all other options not available.  
• STARS – weekdays 8.00 am – 4.00 pm phone 3647 7026 to arrange RAT collection.  
• Redcliffe – Fever clinic near main entrance, priority staff PCR tests 8.00 – 9.00 am seven days, RAT kits available 9.00 am – 3.30 pm seven days at fever clinic. 
• RNA Showgrounds – Drive through and walk in fever clinic, Gate 5 O’Connell Tce, 8.00 am – 4.00 pm seven days, RAT collection and PCR tests.  

For the latest opening staff testing hours and locations please visit the Metro North extranet. Please bring your staff ID and Medicare cards.  

A full list of alternate COVID-19 testing services open to the public is updated daily and can be found on the Queensland Health fever clinic site. Staff can also visit any of these sites.  

Please take care and have a great weekend.    

Kind regards,

Alanna Geary 
Metro North Health Incident Controller

_____________________________________________________________________

Helpful links

• Register your positive RAT result
• 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 30 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.