Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 update 391 | 13/04/2022
Dear colleagues,
- Tier 4 surgery update
- Fit testing
- Staff testing clinics
There are 9176 new COVID cases reported in Queensland.
Current tier 4 situation
All planned care remains cancelled, including virtual outpatient appointments, unless there is a risk of 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.
We currently have 791 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 792 staff out of the workplace as close contacts or COVID positive. So far 194 staff have returned under the Critically Essential Worker requirements.
Fit testing
Now that most staff have been fit tested it’s important to remember to please keep clean shaved to keep safe while providing care.
Clinical staff need to be fit tested annually, and to make a fit testing appointment if you have any significant changes (weight change in the face etc.)
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 – 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 | 668 | 57 | 3 | 221 | |
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 | 196 | 0 | 26 | |
*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.