Dear colleagues,

I have a few updates on our COVID-19 response to share with you.

Declaration of Adelaide as a hotspot

On Monday the Chief Health Officer formally declared 20 Local Government Areas within Adelaide as COVID-19 hotspots. The hotspot declaration means that anyone who arrived after 11.59pm Monday night is required to undergo mandatory hotel quarantine for 14 days at their own expense.

Additionally, the Chief Health Officer requires that anyone who has entered Queensland prior to Monday night and has been in Adelaide since 9 November to get tested and self-isolate at home for 14 days after leaving Adelaide. The Public Health Incident Controller has issued COVID-19 Public Health Alert No.19 to support this testing requirement.

We are aware that around 7000 people arrived in Queensland from Adelaide between the 9^th and Monday and estimate that a large number are currently staying within in our catchment. We have flexed up the resources and operating hours of our fever clinics to support the required testing this week.

Thank you to the team who went to the airport on Monday to screen and provide information to incoming passengers prior to the direction coming into effect, and to our fever clinic and emergency department teams for stepping up our testing.

The cluster in South Australia is a reminder of how quickly the COVID-19 situation can change. We continue to do important work to strengthen and mature our support to the airport.

Introduction of quarantine hotel worker screening program

This week, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee updated recommendations to support and protect the wellbeing of quarantine workers and the wider Australian community. Specifically, regular testing of workers in quarantine and isolation settings is recommended.

We are working with Directorates who care for COVID-19 positive cases in isolation and our quarantine hotel partners to develop and implement a sustainable testing regime as soon as practicable.

Thank you all for keeping up your hand washing, covering your coughs and sneezes, and maintaining physical distancing (I’m happy to demonstrate 1.5m with my “Pool Noodle of Reminder” at any time!).

Regards,

Dr Liz Rushbrook

Metro North Incident Controller

Current MN Response Tier Activated – Tier 0

Metro North HHS – overview of Cases*

*With effect 19 November 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.