Dear colleagues,
A growing COVID-19 cluster in the Northern Beaches of Sydney in New South Wales has meant new restrictions are now in place to keep Queenslanders safe.
Queensland has this morning, as at 11am, recorded three new cases of COVID-19 including one associated with the Northern Beaches outbreak in Sydney, with this area now declared a hotspot.
Contact tracing teams are working directly with those involved however we are reminded to all be vigilant at this time – if you develop any symptoms, get tested immediately and stay home until you receive a negative test result.
If you have been in the Northern Beaches you must immediately get tested and quarantine as per the below directives.
HOTSPOT RESTRICTIONS:
As a result of the outbreak, we must be aware of the following precautions affecting both interstate visitors and Queenslanders returning home. Please note that this also applies to staff who are returning from the Northern Beaches.
- Anyone who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since Friday 11 December 2020 and is already in Queensland should get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches.
- Anyone who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since Friday 11 December 2020 and arrives on a flight from Sydney today Friday 18 December must get tested and quarantine in their home or accommodation for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches.
- Anyone who was in the Sydney Northern Beaches region on or since Friday 11 December 2020 and arrives in Queensland on a flight from Sydney after 1am Saturday 19 December 2020 must go into hotel quarantine at their own expense for 14 days from the date they left the Northern Beaches, and get tested.
VISITORS TO OUR FACILITIES:
Visitation is still permitted to our facilities. However, those who have been in contact with anyone from the Northern Beaches hotspot, or in the hotspot, as per the above, must quarantine and will be unable to visit.
A reminder it is important to continue our hand hygiene and social distancing at this time.
This situation is continually being monitored and we will provide any further updates as required.
TESTING:
Our Fever Clinics remain open and available for testing with a list of locations and opening hours available here. Please ensure you see the fever clinic testing staff for testing if you have been in the Northern Beaches since 11 December.
Metro North has launched a new online booking system for some of our Fever Clinics. All you need is a Medicare card and a couple of minutes to sign up for an account. This can be done here.
Lastly, this is understandably upsetting news for many who may now be spending Christmas alone or disconnected from loved ones. A reminder to please check in with each other at this difficult time.
NORTHERN BEACHES SUBURBS:
The Northern Beaches is a region that includes the suburbs and localities north of Sydney. It includes Allambie Heights, Avalon Beach, Balgowlah, Balgowlah Heights, Bayview, Beacon Hill, Belrose, Bilgola Beach, Bilgola Plateau, Brookvale, Church Point, Clareville, Clontarf, Coasters Retreat, Collaroy, Collaroy Plateau, Cottage Point, Cromer, Curl Curl, Currawong Beach, Davidson, Dee Why, Duffys Forest, Elanora Heights, Elvina Bay, Fairlight, Forestville, Frenchs Forest, Freshwater, Great Mackerel Beach, Ingleside, Killarney Heights, Ku-ring-gai Chase, Lovett Bay, Manly, Manly Vale, McCarrs Creek, Mona Vale, Morning Bay, Narrabeen, Narraweena, Newport, North Balgowlah, North Curl Curl, North Manly, North Narrabeen, Oxford Falls, Palm Beach, Pittwater, Queenscliff, Scotland Island, Seaforth, Terrey Hills, Warriewood, Whale Beach and Wheeler Heights.
Vaccination
A great deal of work is going on behind the scenes to ensure that Metro North and Queensland more broadly is ready for the vaccination when it becomes available. At this stage we have an anticipated availability date of March 2021. A number of people – including myself – are on the state wide groups to make sure that Metro North is ready to roll. This is exciting and greatly anticipated and we will keep you informed as the information becomes available and work is completed.
Christmas 2020
I am officially on leave from Monday 21 December 2020. Liz Rushbrook returns from leave on that date and will be the Incident Commander from then. Thank you to all who are working over the Christmas and New Year. It has been a challenging year but one that each and every one of us can be so proud of.
We are well and truly ready for Christmas in our house. Some of the presents are wrapped and the baking about to start. This is Dave’s first Christmas with us and so far all presents are still intact!! From my family to yours have a wonderful festive season!!!
Regards,
Alanna Geary
Metro North Incident Controller
Current MN Response Tier Activated – Tier 0
Metro North HHS – overview of Cases*
|
HHS |
Patients being managed by HHS | FEVER Clinics | |||||||
| Total In-patients |
Virtual Ward / HITH / or similar |
Deaths ** |
Total cases managed by HHS (including recovered) *** |
# of clinics |
Presentations |
||||
| ICU Pts | |||||||||
|
ICU-NOT Ventilated |
ICU-Ventilated |
Last 24 hrs |
TOTAL^ |
||||||
| MN TOTAL | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 385 | 5 | 189 | 112,833 |
*With effect 18 December 2020, 1000
**Metro North has three recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)
*** These numbers reflect the cases being managed by Metro North.