COVID-19 Alert 15 July 2021- Victorian Lockdown

The Victorian government has announced a five-day lockdown from 11.59pm tonight (15 July) to help curb the current coronavirus outbreak.

 This lockdown is very similar to the ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown of a few weeks ago. There will be five reasons to leave home: food and supplies, authorised work, care and caregiving, exercise, and getting vaccinated. Facemasks must be worn indoors and outdoors except if at home, when visiting a partner’s place of residence or if an exemption applies.

You can read more about the restrictions here.

There is no restriction on essential workers (you) from attending work where required. Please carry your employee ID with you when travelling.

Where it is operationally viable to perform your role remotely, you should do so. However, remote working arrangements must be approved by your manager.

Please stay up-to-date with the list of exposure sites and take the necessary action if required.

If you are unwell, stay home and get tested. Employees have priority access at our drive-through clinics – simply show your employee ID to the traffic controller.

If you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccination, make a booking today. Vaccines are an important part of keeping you and those we care for safe.

Personal Protective Equipment
In addition to the wearing of surgical masks in all settings, eye protection is again required when caring for COVID-negative patients and residents.

Those working in ED, vaccination clinics and frontline community centres will wear N95 with eye protection.

If you are working in a location where you are in contact with people who have not been screened for COVID-19 (e.g. a home visit) you should wear an N95 mask with a face shield.

Those caring for suspected COVID-19 and confirmed COVID-19 and those working in COVID-19 screening clinics need to wear Tier 3 protection.

Remember to risk-assess the situation before any patient contact. If you can’t assess the situation, it’s better to be over prepared: “if in doubt, don’t go without”.

Visitor restrictions
There are no changes to visitor restrictions at this time.

Elective surgery and procedures
There are no changes to elective surgery at this time.

Specialist outpatient consulting
Specialist Consulting Clinics will continue to see patients face-to-face in most cases. Clinicians may change some patient appointments to telehealth bookings based on individual assessment of each patient.

There is a range of quick reference guides and other resources available on our website to support employees as we continue to deliver high-quality care using telehealth channels.

Emergency Department
Monash Health’s emergency departments will continue to enact COVID-19 plans, including screening at entries and PPE requirements for patients.

 Pharmaceutical and medical industry visitors
Pharmaceutical and medical industry visitors are not authorised to visit any Monash Health site. This restriction will be reviewed regularly.

 Arrangements for those at higher risk of serious illness
If you are at higher risk of serious illness if you contract COVID-19, we will need to assess the risk of you continuing to work on-site during the lockdown.

 If you fall into one of these categories, please speak to your manager about what arrangements can be put in place until the end of this lockdown:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 50 years and older with one or more chronic medical conditions.
• People 65 years and older with chronic medical conditions.
• People 70 years and older.
• People with compromised immune systems.
• Pregnant women >28 weeks gestation.

Our aim is to keep employees and patients safe and to try, wherever possible, to have people continue to work in some capacity, even if that means temporarily changing role or location or working from home while the risk is present.

If you can safely complete your role from home, then please speak with your manager about making that arrangement until the end of the lockdown.

We encourage all employees to be vaccinated and, in clinical areas, employees to complete the Respiratory Protection Program.

 Please contact the Monash Health Employee Hotline on 9594 5815 if further guidance is needed.

All meetings to move online
All Monash Health meetings should be conducted virtually whenever possible. This includes meetings for clinical teams. Please do not organise face-to-face meetings or team gatherings.

Information about using Webex conferencing tools is available on the coronavirus website.

Student clinical placements to continue but restrictions in place
Student clinical placements are permitted in all settings but restricted from providing care or being exposed to high-risk SCOVID and confirmed COVID-19 patients. As per the above, students are restricted to one campus or site only.

 Support available
As restrictions come back into force, you may experience anxiety or stress. We have a wide range of resources available to help you during this uncertain time. These can be found on the Health and Wellbeing page on the Monash Health COVID-19 website.

Today’s announcement will be difficult for some, and if you’re struggling, please don’t do so alone. We have a range of support available to you.

Look after yourself, stay safe, and if you haven’t been vaccinated, I strongly encourage you to do so. 

Martin Keogh
Acting Chief Executive