Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 update 375 | 23/03/2022
Dear colleagues,
- Tier 3
- COVID HR resources
- Mandatory PPE requirements
Today there are 10,476 new reported cases of COVID-19 in Queensland.
We currently have 687 staff away from the workplace who are COVID positive or close contacts. Many of our services are under pressure. Please know that we are working to make sure that the staffing impacts are minimised and we will continue to work collectively to manage the services required in our health service.
Tier 3
This morning we moved to Tier 3. This is due to the number of staff not in the workplace.
The major change is a reduction in planned care to redirect clinical and clinical support staff to where they are needed.
Meetings and training that do not impact frontline service delivery may be able to continue.
Visitors are allowed at our facilities in line with the current Chief Health Officer direction. This allows two fully vaccinated visitors per patient in most instances, except in high-risk areas such as emergency departments, neonatal intensive care units, with some requirements for maternity and antenatal care.
Visitors must wear a mask in line with the current mask requirement for healthcare settings.
COVID HR resources
Information for staff who test positive or who are close contacts is available on the extranet:
The Critically Essential Worker requirements are still in effect.
Please remember that even if you have a negative RAT, you should not come to work if you have any symptoms as you may have another viral infection.
Mandatory PPE requirements
There were some questions in today’s vidcast about masks in non-clinical areas.
Masks are mandatory on all of our campuses. This includes when walking from the carpark and as you move around campus.
Under the Public Health Face Mask Requirements Direction (No. 5), masks are mandatory for:
- Healthcare settings
- Residential aged care facilities
- Disability accommodation
- Correctional facilities
- While waiting for and on public transport
- In taxis and rideshares
- At airports and on all domestic and international flights.
Metro North remains in the high risk category of the PPE guidelines. Please check the requirements for your type of work.
Surgical masks are the minimum requirement for administration and non-clinical areas. Please remember our Metro North values and be respectful of those around you by wearing your mask as required.
At this afternoon’s podcast Mark Butterworth gave some really helpful tips on managing your health and wellbeing. It is a stressful time for many of our staff. We have had 2 years of unrelenting COVID and all the disruption that this virus has caused for us, in addition our recent floods and the effects that this has had on you the staff of the health service and your families. I am sure that many of you are still dealing with the fallout of flooded homes, either your own, your friends or your family members. The current conflict between the Ukraine and Russia does put added stress on individuals who may have family, friends or even concern for the people in these countries. Please consider yourself during this time and do not hesitate to reach out for support, Benestar is available and I would strongly encourage to use this service if this meets your needs.
Mark mentioned his fitness and wellbeing activities on the vidcast and I know myself that a walk everyday at the start of the day with my dog Dave puts me in great stead. I work better, I sleep better, and I get to spend some very special times with Dave.
Find something that you like to do but whatever it is, do it for you and your health and wellbeing.
Kind regards,
Alanna Geary
Metro North Health Incident Controller
_____________________________________________________________________
Current Metro North Health tier activated – Tier 3
Helpful links
- Register your positive RAT result
- Upload evidence of your vaccine or booster
- Vaccination locations
- Qld Health general COVID-19 page
- Metro North COVID-19 extranet
- COVID vidcast recordings on QHEPS
Metro North HHS – overview of cases*
| Patients managed by HHS | Fever clinics | ||||||
| Total in-patients | Virtual ward/ HITH/ similar | Deaths** | No. of clinics | Presentations | |||
| Total | ICU patients | Yesterday | |||||
| ICU not ventilated | ICU ventilated | ||||||
| 42 | 0 | 0 | 593 | 51 | 3 | 362 | |
Norfolk Island – overview of cases***
| Patients managed by HHS | Close Contacts in quarantine | ||||||
| Total in-patients | Virtual ward/ HITH/ similar | Total cases including recovered | Deaths | ||||
| Total | ICU patients | ||||||
| ICU not ventilated | ICU ventilated | ||||||
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 127 | 0 | 0 | |
*As at the above date
**Metro North Health has recorded deaths (one person a return traveller into NSW, who passed away in NSW)
*** As part of an Intergovernmental Agreement, from 1 January 2022 Metro North Health is providing a number of health support services to Norfolk Island. This includes advice and support to staff on island in terms of managing COVID patients. The numbers in this section of the table refer to COVID patients who remain on Norfolk Island and are receiving direct care by staff on Norfolk Island.