Acute Respiratory Illness Response<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n Dear colleagues,<\/p>\n We currently have 67 patients in our care with COVID-19 including, 46 in hospital, 2 ICU with 1 ventilated. There are 21 patients in the Virtual Ward. There are also two people in hospital with influenza.<\/p>\n Today there are 123 staff away from work due to either being positive with COVID or as close contacts.<\/p>\n This morning Metro North moved to Tier 1<\/a> of our COVID and Influenza Response Plan<\/a>.<\/p>\n This includes:<\/p>\n There is no change to the Chief Health Officer\u2019s Public Health Face Mask Requirements Direction (No. 5)<\/em><\/a>. <\/em>\u00a0Masks are still required indoors for hospitals and healthcare settings, residential aged care and disability accommodation facilities, corrective services facilities, and on public transport.<\/p>\n From this Friday 9 September there will be a change to the direction to remove the requirement for face masks on domestic flights, but this will not change the requirement for masks in high risk\/vulnerable settings which includes healthcare facilities, aged care, disability accommodation, and corrective services facilities.<\/p>\n We will continue to closely monitor the PPE requirements and update you of any changes.<\/p>\n From Friday 9 September, the required isolation period for people with COVID-19 will change from seven to five days for people with no symptoms. This does not apply to people working in aged care, disability care or home care.<\/p>\n All other isolation requirements<\/a> will remain the same.<\/p>\n Your GP can also provide:<\/p>\n Prescription of COVID-19 oral antivirals for eligible COVID-19 positive patients.<\/p>\n Regards,<\/p>\n Louise O\u2019Riordan<\/strong>![\"Message](\"https:\/\/metronorth.health.qld.gov.au\/extranet\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/07\/ic-banner-ari.jpg\" "\\"ic-banner-ari\\"")
<\/span><\/div>Message from the Metro North Health Incident Controller – COVID-19 & Influenza update 443 | 6\/09\/2022<\/strong><\/h1><\/div>
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Current situation<\/h3>\n
Tier 1<\/h3>\n
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Face masks direction<\/h3>\n
Isolation period<\/h3>\n
Useful links<\/h3>\n
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\nMetro North Health Incident Controller<\/p>\n<\/div>