COVID-19 update 339 | 31/01/2022
Louise O’Riordan, Metro North Health Incident Controller
Dear colleagues,
- Pandemic precautions
- School vaccination clinics
- Fit testing and fit checking
- Upcoming vidcasts
Today there are 7462 reported new cases of COVID-19 in Queensland.
Pandemic precautions
While the daily numbers indicate the current surge is slowing down, we are still in the pandemic and we have seen in the past few weeks how quickly the situation can change.
Vaccination, hand hygiene and social distancing are still very important in protecting you, your loved ones, and your colleagues from COVID-19.
School vaccination clinics
We had good numbers presenting at our pop up vaccination clinics at North Lakes and Narangba over the weekend. This week will have more locations, so please bring the family along for vaccination and boosters.
| Burpengary State School 35 Station Road, Burpengary Dates: Mon 31 Jan and Tues 1 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
Tullawong State School 60-90 Smiths Rd, Caboolture Date: Mon 31 Jan Time: 0900-1500 |
| Eatons Hill State School Marilyn Terrace, Eatons Hill Clinic access from carpark on Apex Grove Date: Tues 1 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
Albany Creek State School 696 Albany Creek, Albany Creek Date: Wed 2 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
| Norris Road State School 28 Greenore Street, Bracken Ridge Date: Wed 2 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
Strathpine State School Don Court, Strathpine Date: Thurs 3rd Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
| Ferny Grove State School Finvoy Street, Ferny Grove Date: Thurs 3 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
Taigum State School 266 Handford Road, Taigum Date: Fri 4 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
| Undurba State School 49 -57 Ogg Road, Murrumba Downs Date: Sat 5 Feb and Sun 6 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
Moreton Downs State School 101 Lipscombe Road, Deception Bay Date: Sat 5 Feb and Sun 6 Feb Time: 0900-1430 |
Fit testing and fit checking
Metro North Health is committed to prioritising fit testing for all our frontline staff. Please check the fit testing schedule on the extranet for local information.
The National Guideline recommends that you do a fit check every time you don an N95 mask to ensure you have a good seal.
Some staff who are new to Metro North may have been tested in another HHS. You might not need to be fit tested again, if:
- you have your fit testing report
- you were fit tested in the past 12 months
- your facial features have not changed significantly
- you were fit tested to a mask available in your current HHS.
You can show your line manager a copy of your fit test report and have this information recorded in the system. You don’t need to have another fit test.
If you have any concerns about fit testing, you can submit them via the fit testing feedback portal. Urgent issues should be escalated to your supervisor and local EOC for resolution.
Upcoming vidcasts
We are continuing to hold two vidcasts per week while we are in Tier 4.
This week’s vidcasts are:
- Tuesday 1 February 10am – Board Chair Jim McGowan AM and Acting Chief Executive Jackie Hanson
- Thursday 3 February 10am – Metro North Incident Controller Louise O’Riordan and Chief Medical Officer Dr Liz Rushbrook
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 | ||||||
| 148 | 5 | 5 | 1233 | 17 | 7 | 1005 | |
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 | 1 | 86 | 0 | 6 | |
*As at the above date
**Metro North Health has 17 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.