Changes to Pandemic Orders
The Victorian government has announced a further easing of restrictions based on the high vaccination rates in Victoria and data showing the Omicron peak is beginning to subside.
While most COVID-19 restrictions will ease across Victoria from 11:59pm Friday 22 April 2022, we, as a health service, will continue to apply some precautions that reflect our local circumstances and context in order to protect our patients, workforce and community.
Close contacts
Close contacts will no longer have to quarantine – provided they perform daily rapid antigen testing for five days, wear a mask indoors and avoid sensitive settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities.
Healthcare workers who are close contacts and have no symptoms are able to attend work provided you:
- Notify your manager and complete the Monash Health Close Contact Form
- Undertake daily RAT testing for five days
- Wear N95 while onsite and have breaks alone
Healthcare workers who are close contacts and have symptoms may return to work if you meet the following criteria:
- You have received a negative PCR test
- Your symptoms are improving or you are feeling better (no muscle aches and pains, no headache, improving cough, etc.)
- You have not experienced a fever in the past 24 hours
- Notify your manager and complete the Monash Health Close Contact Form
- Undertake daily RAT testing for five days
- Wear N95 while onsite and have breaks alone
If your PCR test returns a negative result, but your symptoms are not improving or worsening, do not attend work. Please take another PCR test.
Visitor restrictions
At this time, there are no changes to visitor restrictions in Monash Health hospitals, community or aged care settings.
Under the updated Pandemic Orders visitor restrictions in hospitals will be removed, except for mask requirements. However, health services are able to tailor their own settings based on their own circumstances, reflecting the variable impact of COVID-19 across Victoria.
The Casey Local Government Area has the highest number of active infections in Victoria, with Monash and Kingston not far behind.
We know from our data that visitors entering our facilities pose a significant risk of new infections to vulnerable patients and residents.
Given the current epidemiological factors, our infrastructure, and the pressures we are currently experiencing, we are not in a position to remove our visitor restrictions at this time. We will review this position regularly.
Masks
There are no changes to employee or visitor mask use at this time.
Masks remain mandatory for employees and patients in patient-facing and public areas of our hospitals and care facilities. This includes clinical areas, waiting rooms, cafes, and shared corridors.
Testing exemptions extended
Asymptomatic people will be exempt from testing or quarantine for 12 weeks if they’ve had COVID-19 – up from eight weeks.
As the Chief Health Officer has indicated, and we know from our own experience, we do still have broad community transmission so this pandemic isn’t completely behind us.
Please stay alert to the ongoing infection risk and stay safe.
Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive
All managers are requested to share these updates with their teams and discuss at stand-ups and handovers. Please print a copy and display it in communication books and on employee noticeboards.