Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 update 399 | 28/04/2022

Dear colleagues,

• Current situation
• Flu vaccination
• Restrictions lifting today
• COVID debrief

Current situation

Metro North remains in Tier 3 of our COVID response plan.

Today we have 567 staff out of the workplace due as close contacts or with COVID.

Flu vaccination

The staff flu vaccination campaign has started this week and many staff have taken advantage of their local clinics already.

If you are due for your COVID booster, there is no requirement to wait for your flu vaccination. You can have both vaccinations on the same day.

If you have had COVID, you can get your flu vaccination as soon as you are well.

Restrictions lifting today

From 6pm today, there will be no quarantine requirements for close contacts as long as they:

• do not have COVID-19 symptoms
• test negative every second day for a week from the day of becoming a close contact (day 0, 2, 4 and 6). A self-test using a RAT kit will be allowed, testing does not need to occur at a testing clinic.
• wear a mask outside of home for 7 days
• do not visit any vulnerable settings (hospitals, residential aged care facilities, disability accommodation services, corrective services facilities and detention centres) for 7 days
• let their employer know they are a close contact, and work from home if possible.

Please note, as all Metro North facilities are considered vulnerable, we will continue work through the Critically Essential Worker requirements for returning close contact staff to work.

Anyone who has any COVID-19 symptoms must isolate at home until symptoms resolve, even if they test negative on a RAT.

Also from 6pm today, quarantine requirements for international arrivals (vaccinated and unvaccinated) will be lifted, provided they:

• have no COVID-19 symptoms
• test negative within 24 hours of arriving, or if any symptoms develop
• don’t visit any vulnerable settings for 7 days (hospitals or aged care facilities)

Anyone who has any COVID-19 symptoms must isolate at home until symptoms resolve, even if they test negative on a RAT.

Metro North staff must get approval from your local incident controller (via your EOC) to return to work within the first 7 days of returning from overseas.

COVID debrief

More than 800 staff have completed the COVID-19 debrief survey so far. The survey looks at the way we have responded during the pandemic and asks for your feedback and ideas from this time. If you have a few minutes, please share your thoughts.

Debrief sessions are also running for those interested in talking to me directly. Tomorrow’s sessions are below.

Regards,

Louise O’Riordan
Metro North Health Incident Controller

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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*

Norfolk Island – overview of cases***

*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.