{"id":5020,"date":"2021-04-30T10:01:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-30T00:01:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/?p=5020"},"modified":"2021-04-30T10:01:03","modified_gmt":"2021-04-30T00:01:03","slug":"29-april-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/covid-ic\/29-april-2021","title":{"rendered":"29 April 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Metro<\/span><\/div>
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29 April 2021<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n

With the\u00a0COVID-19 situation in\u00a0India continuing to develop,\u00a0I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on how\u00a0blessed\u00a0we are\u00a0living\u00a0here in Australia.\u00a0To quote the Chief Health Officer, \u201cthis is a\u00a0wicked virus\u201d, and the situation in India shows us that this pandemic is far from over. This means that\u00a0the processes and systems we have in place to protect us, such as our hotel quarantine system, our PPE, and our vaccination\u00a0program, are going to remain part of life for some time to come.<\/p>\n

PPE fit testing<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our fit testing program\u00a0is now available\u00a0across our facilities. We are focusing\u00a0on ensuring staff identified in the priority high risk group are fit tested\u00a0as soon as possible. This includes staff working\u00a0in the COVID wards, infectious diseases wards, intensive care units, fever clinics, emergency departments and hotel quarantine.<\/p>\n

The purpose of the program is to find a mask\/respirator that fits you and\u00a0usually\u00a0takes approximately 20-30 minutes per test.\u00a0If you are unable to find an appropriately fitting P2\/N95 mask, you should notify and work together with your line manager to determine an appropriate solution.<\/p>\n

Where culturally appropriate, please ensure you are clean shaven (or only have facial hair that does not interfere with the fitting surfaces of the mask\/respirator). This will ensure you are able to achieve an effective face seal.<\/p>\n

We now have a schedule for our fit testing program across our facilities. Below\u00a0are\u00a0testing\u00a0times and locations available\u00a0over the next three days.\u00a0The published schedule from now until 7 May 2021 is available on\u00a0our\u00a0extranet site<\/a>. Please continue to check this page, as we will regularly update it with new\u00a0fit testing sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/strong><\/td>\nFacility<\/strong><\/td>\nLocation<\/strong><\/td>\nTargeted Area<\/strong><\/td>\nTime<\/strong><\/td>\nProvider<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Friday, 30 April<\/td>\nRBWH<\/td>\nWattlebrae DTU<\/td>\nCOVID priority<\/td>\n0800-1700<\/td>\nCSDS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nTPCH<\/td>\nThoracic Ward Tute Room 1<\/td>\nID, COVID Ward, POOL<\/td>\n0700-1800<\/td>\nCSDS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\nREDH<\/td>\nICU and COVID Ward<\/td>\nICU\/COVID<\/td>\n0800-1100<\/p>\n

1200-1700<\/td>\n

SureFit Services<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Saturday, 1 May<\/td>\nRBWH<\/td>\nICU Pod 1<\/td>\nICU<\/td>\n0800-1700<\/td>\nCSDS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sunday, 2 May<\/td>\nTPCH<\/td>\nThoracic Ward Tute Room 1<\/td>\nICU (any ID, COVID Ward, POOL)<\/td>\n0800-1700<\/td>\nCSDS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Vaccine update<\/strong><\/p>\n

Further details have come out\u00a0from\u00a0federal and state governments about the vaccination rollout,\u00a0particularly\u00a0details around access to\u00a0the\u00a0Pfizer\u00a0vaccine.\u00a0From Monday 3 May 2021:<\/p>\n