COVID-19 update 332 | 24/01/2022
Dear colleagues,
- Critically Essential Workers update
- Fit testing and PPE
- International arrivals
- Vaccination and testing services
Today there are 10,212 reported new cases of COVID-19 in Queensland.
Critically Essential Workers update
The testing requirements for critically essential workers have been updated in the
Isolation for Diagnosed Cases of COVID-19 and Management of Close Contacts Direction (No. 4).
Staff who are close contacts, please liaise with your local EOC about the steps required for returning to work during your quarantine period.
When leaving home to go to work, you must:
- have no COVID-19 symptoms
- be vaccinated with two doses of a vaccine and, if eligible, a booster shot
- get tested using a RAT kit (supplied by your employer) on your first day of work (before starting work), and on every second day after that, until and including day 6 of your quarantine period
- wear a mask when indoors, and only outdoors if you can’t keep your distance from other people
- travel to and from your workplace by private transport, using the most direct route and without stopping (you can stop for fuel, but you can’t be in contact with other people and payment needs to be contactless)
- regularly clean your hands
- keep your distance from other people as much as you can
- go back into quarantine when not at work.
Your child can only attend school or childcare if they are not a close contact. If they are a close contact, they can’t leave their quarantine to attend school or childcare.
The healthcare category now includes people working in aged and disability care.
Fit testing and PPE
Fit testing continues to be one of our highest priorities, with additional equipment and staffing this week. Extra fit testing sessions were held over the weekend at RBWH. Fit testing hours are being extended to weekends and evenings across the health service where possible.
Please find your local fit testing information on the extranet. Some locations require bookings. If you are unable to find a fit testing appointment, please contact your local EOC.
If you cannot see your fitted masks when you arrive for your shift, please contact the shift coordinator or nurse duty manager for stock.
If you have any concerns, you can submit them via the fit testing feedback portal. Urgent issues should be escalated to your supervisor and local EOC for resolution.
International arrivals
The Quarantine and other Requirements for International Arrivals Direction (No. 20) was updated over the weekend.
From Saturday 22 January, fully vaccinated international arrivals to Queensland are not required to quarantine if:
- they have undertaken a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of their arrival in Queensland, and
- they isolate at their residence, accommodation, or boat until they receive a negative result.
Those who test positive should follow First steps if you have COVID-19.
An international arrival who undertook a COVID-19 test in another State or Territory within 24 hours of arrival in Australia and received a negative test result, does not have to undertake a COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival in Queensland.
Unvaccinated international travellers entering Queensland must enter via Brisbane International Airport.
Vaccination and testing services
Staff RAT kit collection is available from:
- RBWH Education Centre, 9.00am – 4.00pm, Mon to Fri and 9.00am – 3.45pm Sat and Sun (drive through RAT collection not open Wednesday 26 January)
- Brighton Health Campus Wellness Hub, Monday to Friday 10.00am-2.00pm (except Wednesday 26 January)
Staff (and accompanied family member) PCR testing is available from:
- TPCH located in Outpatients B (former Children’s Outpatients Department): 7 days, 7.00am to 2.00pm (public fever clinic open 8.30am to 4.00pm, 7 days)
- Caboolture Hospital staff carpark: 7 days, 7.30am to 3.30pm (the staff car park is open for all Metro North staff accessing the clinic)
- RBWH Education Centre, Central Drive: 9.00am – 4.15pm, Mon to Fri and 9.00am – 3.45pm Sat and Sun.
Vaccination clinic locations and times are available via the Queensland Health website.
Kind regards,
Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller
_____________________________________________________________________
Current Metro North Health tier activated – Tier 4
Helpful links
- Register your positive RAT result
- 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*
| Patients managed by HHS | Fever clinics | ||||||
| Total in-patients | Virtual ward/ HITH/ similar | Deaths** | No. of clinics | Presentations | |||
| Total | ICU patients | Total^ | |||||
| ICU not ventilated | ICU ventilated | ||||||
| 179 | 8 | 3 | 1327 | 8 | 7 | 1293 | |
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 | 5 | 83 | 0 | 19 | |
*As at the above date
**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.
**** 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.