Protecting Older Australians: COVID-19 update 26 March 2021

Published 30th March 2021

Reminder: Aged care vaccine rollout webinar today 2pm-3pm

A reminder that the Department of Health is holding a webinar today (Friday 26 March) at 2pm to discuss the national COVID-19 vaccination program’s rollout across aged care.

Panellists include:

• Professor Michael Kidd AM, Deputy Chief Medical Officer
• Adjunct Professor (Practice), Alison McMillan, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
• Ms Lisa Peterson, Assistant Secretary, COVID-19 Vaccine Aged Care Taskforce.

The webinar will stream online. You don’t need to register for the event. Simply visit the following link a few minutes before the webinar begins: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/webinars/covid-19-response-update-for-aged-care-26-march-2021

For those unable to attend, a recording will be published on the department’s website following the event.

COVID-19 vaccine update for residential aged care workers

Phase 1a eligibility includes all people working at residential aged care facilities who are responsible for residential care, support and services for residents, maintenance and administration. It is a priority to deliver choice and flexibility in accessing COVID-19 vaccinations for aged care staff as quickly as possible in the safest way. The department has developed a fact sheet providing an update for residential aged care workers about when and how they will access COVID-19 vaccines. Please share this fact sheet with your staff.

Keep up to date with trusted information

For more information, including translated information and to subscribe to the COVID-19 Vaccines Updates, visit the COVID-19 vaccines website.

VIC: Updated PPE advice for aged care workers

The Victorian Department of Health has provided updated advice to residential aged care workers on the use of PPE.

Staff are now only required to wear a surgical face mask:

• while in any indoor space that is accessible to residents or visitors
• in any space or environment (indoors or outdoors) where they may engage in face-to-face contact with a resident or visitors. This means that in an outdoor setting, a face mask is needed if workers are within 1.5 metres of residents.

Face masks are not required in non-clinical areas such as private offices or other non-public areas where physical distancing of 1.5 metres can be maintained.

Aged care providers are reminded to stay up to date with advice and Directions on the Victorian Department of Health website and to check for these updates regularly.

NSW: Updated advice for RACFs and Home Care Services

The New South Wales Government has updated advice for residential aged care facilities and home care services in NSW, effective 20 March 2021.

The key updates include:

• Brisbane City, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redland in Queensland have been removed from the Interstate areas of concern.
• Restrictions for people who have been to contact tracing locations in Greater Brisbane since 11 March 2021.
• Restrictions for people who have been to any of the locations at the date and time listed on the close contact or casual contact list, in the past 14 days.

Further information is available on the updated advice for residential aged care facilities and home care services.

Aged care providers are reminded to stay up to date with advice and Directions on the NSW Government website and to check for these updates regularly.

Source:
Unknown Author, 2021, Department of Health (https://www.health.gov.au/)