As advised on Friday, Metro North is planning to move to Tier 2 in its COVID and Influenza Response Plan this Wednesday 17 August. This is based on the continuation of the downward trend in active cases in Metro North’s care and staff away from work.

What will Tier 2 mean?

• Recommencement of outpatient care (both in person and virtual)
• Category 1 elective surgery and Category 4 endoscopies
• Long waits for Categories 2, 3, 5 and 6.

Further details about Tier 2 will be provided in the Metro North Incident Controller’s message tomorrow.

Mask Requirements

With the move to Tier 2 on Wednesday, PPE requirements are also being stepped down in line with advice for the Infection Control and Infectious Diseases group.

The main change is that from Wednesday, P2/N95 masks will be required in:

• Emergency departments
• COVID ICU Pods
• COVID wards
• Isolation rooms when caring for COVID positive patients or COVID close contact patients, or
• If approved as an essential worker during the quarantine period.

In other clinical areas, staff will be required to wear a flat surgical mask.  There is no change to eyewear requirements.

Staff can still choose to wear a P2/N95 mask if they prefer.

Please note: Staff can choose to go up a level in the PPE guidelines, but cannot choose a lower level of PPE than required.

Staff in non-clinical areas are required to wear a flat surgical mask.

Staff COVID vaccine boosters

Staff vaccination booster service

TPCH staff vaccination booster service (Pfizer only) will be available in the Education Centre from tomorrow, Tuesday 16 until Friday 19 August, 8am-4pm.

Staff are eligible to receive a booster if:

3^rd Dose

• >18 years of age and
• > 3 months have elapsed since their last COVID vaccination
• > 3 months have elapsed if they have had COVID and recovered

4^th Dose

• >30 years of age and
• > 3 months have elapsed since their last COVID vaccination
• > 3 months have elapsed if they have had COVID and recovered

If you are under 30 or immunosuppressed, please see you GP for vaccination advice.

Bookings are open and can be made via this link MNH Staff Pfizer Vaccinations August 2022 (office365.com) or you can scan the QR code.

Please bring your Medicare card to your appointment.

Booster registrations

You can also register your additional doses yourself online. The process is the same as recording your first two doses:

• Download your COVID digital certificate from your myGov account
• Go to the COVID-19 Vaccination Hub
• Choose the +Booster Vaccination option
• Add your booster details
• Upload or drag and drop your certificate
• Save

You can also submit a paper form if you can’t get to a kiosk or upload to the COVID vaccination hub during work hours. The form can be submitted to MN-COVID-Staff-Vaccination-Forms-only@health.qld.gov.au with a copy of your vaccination evidence.

Tami Photinos
Executive Director