Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 update 372 | 14/03/2022

Louise O’Riordan Metro North Health Incident Controller

Dear colleagues,

• Hospital visitor entry direction
• Workers in healthcare direction
• Residential and disability accommodation directions
• PPE requirements
• Returning from overseas

Today there are 3797 reported cases of COVID-19 in Queensland.

Hospital visitor entry direction

Over the weekend the Hospital Visitor Entry Direction was updated. The direction now applies to visitors, students and volunteers who are not engaged by the hospital.

The direction allows that in exceptional circumstances a second support person is allowed for antenatal clinic visits, but permission must be sought by phoning the clinic prior to arriving.

Restrictions for workers and contractors have been moved to the Workers in a Healthcare Setting Direction.

Visitors who have returned from overseas within the previous 14 days cannot enter our facilities without an exemption from the Chief Health Officer.

Workers in healthcare direction

The Workers in a Healthcare Setting Direction was also updated over the weekend.

The update includes mandatory COVID boosters for workers in residential aged care facilities if eligible and continue to receive booster doses as recommended. Operators of residential aged care facilities must develop a Workforce Management Plan.

Workers who are unable to be vaccinated and are identified as providing a critical support must have a COVID test within 24 hours prior to entering the facility and then every second day when entering on multiple consecutive days.

Residential and disability accommodation directions

The Residential Aged Care Visitor Direction and Disability Accommodation Services Visitor Direction have also been updated.

Volunteers engaged by the facility and not another organisation now fall under the Workers in a Healthcare Setting Direction.

The changes also allow a facility to implement additional local restrictions if there is an outbreak at the facility.

PPE requirement

Just a reminder that masks are still mandatory for:

• Healthcare settings

• Residential aged care facilities
• Disability accommodation
• Correctional facilities
• While waiting for and on public transport
• In taxis and rideshares,
• At airports and on all domestic and international flights.

Metro North remains in the high risk category of the PPE guidelines. Please check the requirements for your type of work.

Returning from overseas

Staff returning from overseas must follow the requirements for entering Queensland and get approval from your local Incident Controller via your local EOC before returning to work if within 14 days of arrival.

Staff approved to return to work within 14 days must also return a negative rapid antigen test every second day for 7 days.

Kind regards,

Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller

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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*

Norfolk Island – overview of cases***

*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.