17 December 2021

Dear colleagues,   

Moderate PPE risk level 

Due to the increase of community transmission across south-east Queensland, we are moving to moderate PPE risk level effective 3pm today, Friday 17 December 2021. We remain at Tier 0 in our COVID-19 response plan.  

This means that the minimum standard for routine clinical care (when there isn’t a higher PPE requirement), is a flat surgical mask and protective eyewear. Staff in clinical areas must wear the appropriate level of PPE for the type of care they are delivering.   

See the details for moderate risk in the PPE matrix in Personal protective equipment in healthcare delivery, community health and in-home care settings, correctional services and Personal protective equipment in residential aged care and disability accommodation services for specific information relating to your work.  

Staff in non-clinical areas must wear a flat surgical mask at all times, unless you are working alone in your own office. Face masks must be Queensland Health supplied, so staff that arrive in their own masks must change their mask on arrival to a Metro North facility.  

All staff must wear surgical masks when in common areas, such as tea rooms and elevators, and when moving around outside on campus and in walkways. When in doubt, wear a mask!  

Mask mandate 

The Premier announced this morning that masks will also be mandatory as of 1am Saturday 18 December in the following locations: 

• in shops and retail centres 
• hospitals and aged care facilities 
• on public transport 
• in rideshare vehicles 
• airports and planes.  

Masks are also recommended in all situations where you can’t socially distance.  

Given that we are expecting to see an increase in cases over the coming days, please ensure you check the list of exposure sites each day before coming to work as this list will continue to grow.   

If you have any symptoms at all, assume it’s COVID-19, so stay home and get tested.  

Regards, 

Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller 

Helpful links

• 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*

*As at 17/12/2021
**Metro North Health has four 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.