22 December 2021

Dear colleagues,

Queensland recorded 186 new cases of COVID-19 today. Chief Health Officer John Gerrard said that of the 79 people in hospital, only one patient, who had other medical conditions, was experiencing symptoms. There’s a lot of information in today’s message. Please read thoroughly, it’s in no particular order of importance!

I’d like to reiterate that staff should be wearing masks no matter where they are on one of our facility campuses. This includes the carpark and outside areas.

New PPE requirements

New requirements effective immediately will apply to:

• Emergency departments
• Fever clinics
• Known COVID-19 areas
• Anyone performing aerosol generating procedures

For anyone working in these areas, the new requirements high risk PPE which is moving to N95 masks and protective eyewear at all times. Gowns are not required unless you’re working in the respiratory zones, or if you’re working with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients in respiratory zones.

Booster clinics

There has been some confusion surrounding who is eligible to get their COVID-19 booster shot at the facility clinics. I can confirm that any Metro North Health staff member is able to get their vaccine at any Metro North Health clinic. A list of available clinics can be found here.

COVID-19 in our facilities

As COVID-19 continues to spread in Queensland, it’s inevitable that staff, patients and visitors may be exposed to the virus while in our facilities. We have seen a number of exposure sites/ outbreaks over the last few days at several Metro North Health facilities. Please remain calm. Our incident management and outbreak management teams are working hard to inform the necessary staff and patients of any exposure risk.

This means contact tracing will increase. Please ensure you have provided your most up to date contact details to your line manager and in Streamline. Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, staff may receive a text message from contact tracers so it’s important we can reach you under these circumstances.

Casual and close contacts – new directions

New directions have been published regarding processes for casual and close contacts. You can read the directions online.

• Management of Close Contacts Direction (No. 4) – Full direction.
• Management of Secondary Contacts Direction (No. 3) – Full direction.

COVID-19 vidcasts

A lot of information was provided in today’s vidcast. If you missed it, you can watch it online. Tomorrow, infectious diseases doctor Andrew Redmond will be hosting a vidcast from 1pm. Tune in here.

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 22/12/2021
**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.