![\"Metro](\"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2020\/04\/mn-health-incident-controller2.jpg\" "\\"Metro")
<\/span><\/div>Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll notice in our numbers today that even\u00a0as Queensland\u2019s cases slowly rises, our recovered cases continue to grow. With so much focus on\u00a0COVID-19 positive patients,\u00a0we should be celebrating patients\u2019 recoveries too!\u00a0I have a few updates for you today:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Clarification of testing criteria<\/li>\n
- PPE donations<\/li>\n
- Properly using\u00a0Riskman\u00a0for COVID-19 incidents<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Clarification of\u00a0testing\u00a0criteria<\/strong><\/p>\n
As the COVID-19 situation changes day by day, it can be hard to keep\u00a0abreast of changes.\u00a0As you know there were updates to the testing criteria\u00a0this week and I\u2019d like to clarify exactly what we need to be looking for when patients present to our assessment clinics.<\/p>\n
The clinics are for people who have:<\/p>\n
- \n
- been overseas in the past 14 days\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- been in contact with someone with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- have disembarked from a cruise ship in the last 14 days\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- are a healthcare worker, aged care or residential aged care worker\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- live in Brisbane, Cairns or the Gold Coast\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- live in an area where an outbreak as occurred\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- live in a First Nations community.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
AND<\/strong><\/p>\n
- \n
- have a fever (or history of fever) OR acute respiratory infection\u00a0including\u00a0sore throat, cough, shortness of breath, with or without fever)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
I hope this clears up any confusion. Staff on the frontline truly are doing an extraordinary job. We rely on your teamwork, compassion, commitment and skills\u00a0day in, day out. Thank you for powering on\u00a0it is most appreciated!<\/p>\n
PPE donations<\/strong><\/p>\n
We\u2019ve seen communities all over the world donate their time and resources to help healthcare staff get by through this time. From free coffees to a simple \u2018thank you\u2019, the community\u00a0are doing\u00a0everything\u00a0they can to\u00a0assist our response.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve become aware of people sewing and donating PPE items such as masks and caps. Although this is incredibly kind and thoughtful, please note that we cannot accept home-sewn masks or caps.\u00a0We are incredibly grateful to everyone who wants to help, and the best way they can do this is by staying home, covering coughs and sneezes, practising social distancing and\u00a0by\u00a0checking in on vulnerable people in their local communities.<\/p>\n
If you know of anyone\u00a0helping\u00a0in this way, you might like\u00a0to suggest that they donate their hand-sewn items to people in their community, rather than healthcare staff.<\/p>\n
Properly\u00a0using\u00a0Riskman<\/strong><\/p>\n
To ensure all COVID-19 related incidents and feedback is consistently captured and reported through\u00a0Riskman, we ask all reporters to add \u2018COVID-19\u2019 in the Incident or Feedback \u2018Summary\u2019 data field.\u00a0To best protect yourselves and your colleagues, incidents and feedback\u00a0must\u00a0<\/strong>be properly recorded.\u00a0Please refer to the\u00a0step by step guidelines<\/a>\u00a0and if\u00a0you have any questions, please speak with your Line Manager.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re at home today, I hope you\u2019re enjoying a well-deserved break!\u00a0During challenging times like these\u00a0it\u2019s important\u00a0to spend quality time with your loved ones\u00a0and to\u00a0ensure you look after yourself. Please\u00a0use the MN extranet website and keep a\u00a0check in on your wellbeing<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0Today Good Friday I\u00a0am\u00a0very much looking forward to seeing\u00a0two of my\u00a0grandfurr\u00a0babies Bear and George when I get home\u00a0(and I had better try and\u00a0keep them 1.5 m apart)!\u00a0 It is those who provide us unconditional love who are most important\u00a0in\u00a0difficult times and it is often the simple things that keep us happy and motivated.<\/p>\n
For those of you who are working today, THANK YOU! Whatever your role is,\u00a0you are\u00a0essential\u00a0and you are\u00a0such a valued member\u00a0of the amazing Metro North team responding to COVID-19.<\/p>\n
Regards,<\/p>\n
Dr Liz\u00a0Rushbrook\u202f&\u00a0Adjunct Professor Alanna Geary<\/p>\n
Metro North Health Incident Controllers<\/p>\n
Metro North HHS \u2013 Overview of Cases*<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n\n
\n Confirmed COVID-19 Cases<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Virtual Ward<\/strong><\/td>\n Inpatient Ward<\/strong><\/td>\n Inpatient ICU<\/strong><\/td>\n Recovered<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n 93<\/td>\n 8<\/td>\n 5<\/td>\n 193<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n *With effect 1000 10 April 2020
\n**Metro North has two recorded deaths<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
- been in contact with someone with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- been overseas in the past 14 days\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n