Chief Executive COVID-19 Update: 25 January 2022

Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – 25 January 2022

 As of today, we have: 

• 262 COVID-19 positive inpatients
• 174 employees with COVID-19 
• 70 employees in precautionary quarantine
• 84 employees who are primary close contacts and working under public health exemption

In this update, we cover: 

• Latest on the Pandemic Code Brown
• N95s now required in Emergency Departments, and for visitors, caregivers, support people, and ambulatory patients
• Fit testing required for all employee N95 mask use
• Asymptomatic close contacts returning to work
• Declaring your Positive and/or Close Contact COVID-19 status
• Movement of employees during COVID-19
• Be Well – Monash psychologists supporting Monash teams
• Individual and family support available
• Mandatory third COVID-19 vaccine doses

A sense of cautious optimism – Code Brown state of play

As we mark two years since we cared for the first COVID-19 patient in Australia, it is worth thinking about what’s been achieved through hard work and commitment to excellent care.

In thinking back over the past couple of years, I am reminded of Michael Rojales, one of our COVID-19 patients when we were in the first wave, and the message of thanks he gave to our teams last year. It is worth reminding ourselves of these milestones and what a difference we have made to individuals, to our community and the high quality of our response

As we move into week two of the Pandemic Code Brown response, there is a sense of cautious optimism about the numbers and the trends we are seeing.

Over the past week, we’ve seen demand steady for ward beds for COVID-positive patients and ED presentations.

The weekend vaccination blitz saw our teams deliver over 15,000 vaccinations, which is a remarkable effort and one of the keys to continuing to keep ourselves and our community safe.

The next significant challenge for the state and for many of you personally, is how we manage the start of the school year, later this week and into next, when we may see some impacts in terms of both patient numbers and employee availability.

Let’s continue to focus our efforts on remaining flexible and ready to respond, utilising rapid antigen tests as they become more readily available and, most of all, making sure we have all had our third (booster) COVID-19 dose before the healthcare worker deadlines.

N95 masks are now required in Emergency Departments, and for visitors, caregivers, support people, and ambulatory patients

To reduce transmission risk from people entering the health service, N95s will now be expected to be worn by adults (18+) in Emergency Departments, and by visitors, caregivers and support people in all areas of the health service.

Ambulatory patients will be asked to wear an N95 if they can tolerate it.

Children aged 8-17 must wear a surgical mask.

Visitors, caregivers and support people with mask exemptions, who are unable to wear a mask for the duration of their visit, are unable to enter Monash Health sites until further notice.

Posters for Emergency Departments and Front Entrances can be found here.

Thank you for the important work you are doing. Throughout the pandemic, your dedication, professionalism, care and teamwork has helped keep our community and each other safe.

Andrew Stripp

Chief Executive

Key Messages

Fit testing is required for all employees for N95 mask use

All employees who are required to regularly wear an N95 should be fit tested, to ensure that the mask you are wearing offers the best possible level of protection.

Our PPE Compulsory Standards require that all patient-facing employees wear an N95 mask and eye protection at a minimum. A patient-facing employee is any employee who has regular contact with patients.

Fit testing is a process during which a user trials a range of makes, models and sizes of N95 masks to find the most efficient seal for their face. Better fitting masks offer better protection from workplace respiratory hazards, including airborne infectious agents, dust, and other particles.

To book your test, please first complete the Fit Testing Consent and Medical Clearance Form. After completing the form, you will be guided to book your fit test.

Please note that if you are coming up to your 12 month re-test, we will fit test new employees first. Please be patient.

Asymptomatic close contacts returning to work
Asymptomatic healthcare workers who are close contacts are exempt from quarantine requirements to attend work.

A close contact is someone who has spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 without appropriate PPE in place.

If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and you have no symptoms, please notify your manager, then complete the Employee COVID Declaration form. Our team will then provide advice about testing and isolation requirements.

If you do have COVID-19 symptoms, your first priority is your health and wellbeing. Please get tested as soon as possible (RAT or PCR) and do not attend work.

Declaring your Positive and/or Close Contact COVID-19 status

You can now declare your COVID-19 positive status or your Close Contact status using our Employee COVID Declaration form. This replaces the previous requirement to call the Employee Hotline.

Find out more about your reporting requirements here.

Movement of employees during COVID-19
New guidance for the movement of workers across and within and/or between health services has been released.

This guidance covers doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health, paramedics, medical and health professional students undertaking clinical placements, personal care attendants, assistant or delegate workforces, clerical staff, patient service assistants, security, cleaners and food service staff and includes:

• Movement within and between health services
• Movement between residential aged care facilities OR a residential aged care facility and a health service

Read the updated guidance here.

Be Well – Monash psychologists supporting Monash teams

Monash Health now provides additional psychological, emotional, and practical support services as part of the ‘Be Well’ program, including an expansion of the Call a Psychologist program, for teams delivered by Monash Health psychologists for team-based support.

Team leaders can reach out to Be Well for team check‐ins, support following a critical event, strategies to promote mentally healthy teams and to facilitate team wellbeing sessions.

Read more about Be well here.

Individual and family support

Our Employee Assistance Program provides a wide range of free and confidential support services for you and members of your family.

The offsite EAP service is available from 8am to 8pm, with limited availability on weekends. To find out more or to book an appointment call 1300 687 327 or email customerservice@convergeintl.com.au

Mandatory third COVID-19 vaccine doses

Under a new pandemic order (Mandatory Vaccination (Specified Facilities) Order), healthcare and aged care workers must get their third (booster) COVID-19 vaccine dose in order to continue working at a care facility.

This applies to all employees; clinical and non-clinical, casuals, administrative teams, volunteers, students, contractors, those working wholly or partially from home and those on long-term leave (who will need to be vaccinated before returning to work).

Healthcare Workers

• For workers who became fully vaccinated on or before 12 September 2021, the deadline is 12 February 2022.
• For workers who became fully vaccinated after 12 September 2021, the deadline is 29 March 2022.

Aged Care Workers

• For workers who became fully vaccinated (two doses) on or before 12 September 2021, the deadline is 12 February 2022.
• For workers who became fully vaccinated after 12 September 2021, the deadline is 1 March 2022.

If you have not yet received your third dose (booster), please make a booking today – you can call 1800 675 398 or book your appointment using the online booking portal.

If you have already received your third (booster) dose at Monash Health

If you have received your third (booster) dose at a Monash Health clinic while a Monash Health employee, you do not need to take any further action.

If you were vaccinated at a Monash Health clinic before commencing employment with us, you must provide evidence using the COVID-19 Vaccination Evidence Form.

If you have received your third (booster) dose elsewhere

If you did not receive your third (booster) dose at a Monash Health clinic, you must provide evidence using the COVID-19 Vaccination Evidence Form.