28 December 2021

28 December 2021

Dear Colleagues,

A very big thank you to staff who continue to care for our community, particularly over the busy Christmas and New Year period.

It’s easy to use the word unprecedented but I think it is an appropriate description of the past few weeks at Metro North Health facilities and for our health colleagues across the State.

In the past 24 hours, Queensland recorded 1158 new positive COVID-19 cases. There are 257 of those confirmed as the Omicron strain. Just over 32,000 tests were completed during this time with 1592 at Metro North facilities.

Across Queensland, there are six acutely unwell people with COVID-19 receiving care in hospital, from a total of 4779 current active cases.

In good news, there are no COVID-19 patients in ICU or on a ventilator across the State, which is a strong indicator that our vaccines are particularly effective.

Metro North Health staff with COVID-19

There are now 24 Metro North Health staff who have COVID-19. None are acutely unwell and we wish them well. A further 81 Metro North Health staff are in quarantine awaiting results.

The Staff Fever Clinic at the RBWH Education Centre is open from 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Please note that this facility cannot process staff from other HHS or private facilities.

Any Metro North employee and their family can attend. The staff member must attend and bring their staff ID and Medicare card.

Day 5 testing requirement removed

Metro North Health Fever Clinics delivered more than 1592 tests yesterday. This is a massive undertaking and my thanks to all the staff who continue to deliver such a high level of service.

In good news, travellers from interstate hotspots no longer need to have a COVID-19 test on their fifth day in Queensland. This is effective immediately, following the Chief Health Officer’s announcement this morning.

Research for the past two weeks since the borders opened (on Monday 13 December), showed just 0.06 per cent of people from interstate returned a positive result from their day five testing.

This change should have a really positive impact on testing queues and reduce strain on the lab but, importantly, it is an appropriate decision based on the evidence. To clarify, there is no need for day five testing of inpatients from interstate if not symptomatic.

However, people wishing to cross the border into Queensland still need to be fully vaccinated and provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test no more than 72 hours before they enter.

Kelvin Grove QUT Fever Clinic now open

The new Fever Clinic at Kelvin Grove QUT is now open. Thanks to everyone who helped deliver this new facility in a very short timeframe. It will start regular hours, 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week, from tomorrow (29/12). This is both a drive-through and walk-through clinic.

Given today is the final public holiday for the Christmas break, many private clinics will open regular hours until New Year’s Eve which will also help ease demand at Metro North facilities.

Surveillance testing to cease

We now have a having a fully vaccinated workforce wearing high risk PPE and sustained community transmission, so COVID-19 surveillance testing of asymptomatic staff is being discontinued.

Wear masks correctly

With COVID-19 spreading in our community, Metro North Health has moved to High Risk PPE and Tier 3 (minus) position for our COVID-19 response. I strongly encourage everyone to view the response plan and make sure you are following all relevant directions.

To protect yourself and your colleagues, please ensure your mask is on properly which includes fully covering your nose and not dangling around your neck. If you haven’t already done so, please book in for a fit test to find the mask that is right for you.

While at work, the only time you can remove your mask is to eat and drink. Please ensure you are social distancing and put on a fresh mask upon your return to work.

Finally, a special shout out to all Metro North Health staff – particularly our Public Health Unit, hotel quarantine and virtual ward staff – for demonstrating a real commitment to providing care during this very busy time.

Kind Regards,

Michele Gardner 

Metro North Health Incident Controller 

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Helpful links

Metro North HHS – overview of cases*

HHS	Patients being managed by HHS						FEVER Clinics
	Total In-patients			Virtual Ward / HITH / or similar	Deaths **	Total cases managed by HHS (including recovered) *******	# of clinics	Presentations
		ICU Pts
		ICU-NOT Ventilated	ICU-Ventilated					Yesterday	TOTAL^
MN TOTAL	210	0	0	184	4	1087	3	1592	275,815

*As at 28/12/21 

**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.  

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