Published 17th September 2020
On 12 September, the Department released a new data snapshot of residential aged care facilities which have recorded COVID-19 infections. The report provides greater transparency for residents and their families around the situation in aged care facilities. You can read Minister Colbeck’s announcement on the release of COVID-19 infection data in aged care here.
The report includes data on the impact of COVID-19 in residential aged care facilities nationally that have had two or more cases, as well as information on the deployment of workforce, testing and PPE to support them. The report also highlights how Australia is performing internationally.
The report will be updated weekly and can be viewed on the Department’s website.
Guidance is available for residential aged care facilities on the process for preparing to return residents back to their residential aged care facility from hospital.
The approach to returning residents is underpinned by the following principles:
The full factsheet, which has been released by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission is available here.
NSW Health is seeking to ensure that all appropriate preventative action is taken to avoid transmission of COVID into residential aged care facilities and home care settings.
NSW Health released updated advice on 11 September 2020. This advice confirmed the continuation of visitor restrictions for residential aged care facilities in metropolitan Sydney and the Nepean Blue Mountains and Central Coast regions. In addition, staff who work or live in these areas must wear masks whilst at work.
This temporary requirement will be reviewed next week based on the incidence of COVID-19.
Read NSW Health’s full advice for residential aged care facilities and home care providers.
Queensland Health has issued Aged Care Direction (No 10) which came into effect from 11 September 2020.
The latest advice includes:
Further changes are set to come in to effect from 8:00am on 1 October 2020 and these include:
Take reasonable steps to ensure they have an adequate supply of PPE available to respond to a confirmed case of COVID-19 within the facility.
Two webinars are scheduled this week. The webinars will focus on family engagement and communication on Wednesday 16 September, and best practice PPE on Friday 18 September.
The Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC) webinar “lunch ‘n learn” series includes expert speakers from VACRC and subject matter experts from across the age services industry.
This series of webinars are conveniently held at lunchtime and are free to attend. The topics are designed to equip providers with information to support them during the pandemic as well as providing an opportunity for providers to ask questions.
Recordings will be made available to registrants after the session. You can find out more and register, on the website lasa.asn.au/event/lunch-and-learn-vacrc.
Source:Unknown Author, 2020, Department of Health
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