COVID-19 update 353 | 14/02/2022
Dear colleagues,
- Mask reminder for returning workers
- Vaccination boosters
- Fit testing
- Your nearest staff PCR and RAT services
Today there were 3750 reported new COVID cases in Queensland. It’s good to see the numbers are relatively consistent at the moment and we are returning to a bit more COVID business as usual.
Mask reminder for returning workers
With many staff returning to the workplace today, just a reminder that facemasks are mandatory for all of our facilities.
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.
Metro North is the in high risk category of the PPE matrix which outlines the appropriate PPE for your type of work.
Vaccination boosters
Boosters provide valuable protection against the worst of COVID-19. You can get a walk-in booster at any of Metro North’s COVID vaccine clinics, or by making an appointment with your GP or local pharmacy.
You can register your booster by following the instructions on the extranet.
Fit testing
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.
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.
You can record your fit test in TMS by using the add completed course option.
Your nearest staff PCR and RAT services
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.
Kind regards,
Mark Butterworth
Metro North Health Incident Controller
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Current Metro North Health tier activated – Tier 3
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*
| 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 | ||||||
| 64 | 5 | 1 | 319 | 35 | 6 | 241 | |
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 | 6 | 90 | 0 | 9 | |
*As at the above date
**Metro North Health has 35 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.