Acute Respiratory Illness Response
Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 418 | 7/07/2022
Dear colleagues,
Metro North is currently caring for 785 patients with COVID. This includes 160 inpatients with 4 in ICU, and 625 in the Virtual Ward. Additionally, we currently have 22 inpatients with influenza.
Today there are 652 staff unable to be at work due to either being COVID positive or requiring isolation due to being a close contact. Today there are 98 staff who have returned under the critically essential worker arrangements.
For those people in your life looking for PCR testing, please refer them to the COVID testing location information on the Queensland Government website.
If you weren’t able to tune in to today’s vidcast with Acting Chief Operating Officer Jane Hancock and Dr Krispin Hajkowicz, the recording will be on QHEPS soon. The vidcast discussed antivirals and COVID vaccination amongst other topics. We will continue holding two vidcasts a week to update you on our COVID and influenza response.
There has been a lot of discussion today about the expansion of eligibility for the 4th dose of COVID vaccine. The details are expected soon about who exactly will be eligible and when. Remember, you can’t get your 4th dose until you’ve had your third 😊.
The evidence is very clear that while the existing COVID vaccines may not prevent you getting the Omicron strain, they definitely minimise symptoms and reduce your likelihood of hospitalisation. COVID and flu vaccinations are available at pharmacies and GPs.
We would love it if you also upload your vaccination record to the Queensland Health vaccine hub so we have a good understanding for workforce planning. As an individual who is not very IT literate I did it recently and it was surprisingly easy! I had not realised that it didn’t happen automatically, so I have done it and I would strongly encourage everyone to do so.
One thing I do need to remind everyone of is that all staff in clinical areas should be wearing protective eyewear (goggles) as well as fit checked and fit tested P2/N95 masks. The eyes are an entry point for the virus, so please look out for your colleagues and give them a polite reminder if they’ve forgotten their goggles.
Thank you all for your work.
Regards,
Alanna Geary
Metro North Health Incident Controller