Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 424 | 18/07/2022

Dear colleagues,

• Current situation
• Visitor exemptions
• Useful resources

Current situation

We currently have 821 active cases of COVID in our care, including 194 inpatients with 7 ventilated in ICU.

There are also 621 staff away from work due to either being COVID positive or requiring isolation due to being a close contact.

Visitor exemptions

Changes to the Management of Diagnosed Cases of COVID-19 and Close Contacts Direction (No. 3) allows hospital operators to approve exemptions for visitors who are diagnosed with COVID or who are close contacts.

In exceptional and compassionate circumstances, such as an end-of-life visit or visiting a patient who is seriously or critically ill, the hospital operator can consider an exemption at any stage of the 14-day isolation period.

For most other situations, we can consider an exemption for a visitor who is not symptomatic and is at Day 8 or later.

The visitor exemption form has been updated to allow local EOC approval.

Anyone else with symptoms who does not have an exemption is still asked not to visit. 

Useful resources

• You can find a COVID vaccine provider using the Department of Health COVID Vaccine Clinic Finder website.
• There are a range of PCR testing providers listed on the Queensland Government website.
• People with respiratory symptoms can make an appointment (often same day) through GP Respiratory Clinics.

Regards,

Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller