Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 update 400 | 29/04/2022

Dear colleagues,

• Current situation
• Staff who are close contacts
• Requirements for international arrivals
• COVID debrief survey
• Last day for community vaccination program

Current situation

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

Today we have 549 staff out of the workplace due as close contacts or with COVID.

Staff who are close contacts

In line with the updated Isolation for Diagnosed Cases of COVID-19 and Management of Close Contacts Direction (No. 7), we are working to support staff coming back to work if they are close contacts.

Staff must still obtain approval prior to returning to work, and a risk assessment will be undertaken to ensure there is no compromise to vulnerable patients. Asymptomatic close contacts must return a negative COVID-19 test result before your first shift and every second day for seven days from the last time someone in your household tested positive for COVID-19.

You must also wear PPE as per the risk matrix for your work area. If you develop COVID-19 symptoms you must leave the workplace and isolate at home until symptoms resolve, even if you test negative on a RAT.

We will provide further information on return-to-work processes for staff who are close contacts early next week.

Requirements for international arrivals

Staff and students may return to work within seven days of overseas travel provided you receive approval from your local incident controller (via your local EOC) and:

• are fully vaccinated
• have no COVID-19 symptoms
• receive a negative COVID-19 test result before your first shift and then every second day until seven days have passed from your arrival into Queensland
• use PPE as required until seven days have passed from your arrival into Queensland.

International arrivals are not permitted to visit our facilities for seven days after arriving into Queensland unless an exemption has been granted.

COVID debrief survey

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.

Last day for community vaccination program

Today is the last day of our community-based vaccination program! Between March 2021 and April 2022:

• COH vaccination services delivered over 412,000 COVID-19 vaccinations in the community for those aged 5-100 in over 80 locations.
• The Caboolture vaccination team delivered over 70,000 vaccinations in the community for those aged 5-100 in multiple locations.
• Metro North has provided more than 640,700 vaccinations in more than 103 locations.

Thank you to everyone who has been involved in our COVID-19 vaccination rollout over the last 14 months. I am so proud that Metro North has the highest vaccinated catchment in Queensland thanks to all your amazing work.

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.