COVID-19 Alert 5 August 2021- Victorian Lockdown

The Victorian government has announced a seven day lockdown from 8pm tonight (5 August) in response to the COVID-19 cases reported in the last 24 hours.

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.

COVID Active status
Victoria has returned to COVID Active status under the Victorian Health Service Guidance and Response to COVID-19 Risks (VHSGR) model.

 There are four risk levels, with each rating reflecting the risk of COVID-19 transmission in the community and how a health service should respond and prepare to reduce that risk:

Read more about the VHSGR model here.

Keeping our workplace safe

• 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. You have priority access at our drive-through clinics – simply show your employee ID to the traffic controller.
• Complete your daily attestations carefully, and use the QR code system when you use any of our shared spaces
• Stay vigilant with hand hygiene and physical distancing, in and out of work.
• If you have not yet received your COVID-19 vaccination, make a booking today

Personal Protective Equipment
In addition to wearing surgical masks in all settings, eye protection is 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.

Review our PPE Compulsory Standards here.

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
Visitors will not be permitted at Monash Health hospitals, care locations, or residential facilities from 8pm, Thursday 5 August. Exceptions include end-of-life reasons, as a support partner for birth/maternity, or a parent/carer to accompany a child.

We know this will be hard for patients and loved ones, but it is necessary to protect patients, healthcare workers, and the community.

Resources:

• An updated visitation poster is available on the COVID-19 intranet

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

Specialist outpatient consulting
Specialist Consulting Clinics will prioritise telehealth consultations when safe to do so. Clinicians will guide the need for a face-to-face appointment based on individual assessments 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
Current arrangements for those at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 remain in place. Please contact the Monash Health Employee Hotline on 9594 5815 if further guidance is needed.

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

 All meetings to remain 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. Students are restricted to one campus or site only.

Support is available
If you are experiencing anxiety or stress, we have a wide range of resources available to help you. These can be found on the Health and Wellbeing page on the Monash Health COVID-19 website.

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

 Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive