COVID-19 Alert 8 September 2021- Dandenong Hospital exposure update

This is a further update to earlier advice that a patient who delivered a baby via elective caesarean section, subsequently returned a positive COVID-19 test.

The partner of the patient has now provided additional information and it has been identified that he briefly attended the café at Dandenong Hospital “Zouki” on Monday 6 September between 12.50pm and 1.05pm.

Although the risk of COVID-19 transmission is assessed as low, we ask any employee who visited the café at that time to:

• Test and isolate until a negative result is received. Those unsure of the time they may have been at the café can check their bank statement for transactions times;
• Advise your manager; and
• Call the Monash Health Employee Hotline on (03) 9594 5815, 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.

 We will continue to provide regular updates as information becomes available. If you have concerns, please contact the Monash Health Employee Hotline on (03) 9594 5815, 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Public exposure sites

The Dandenong Hospital Café “Zouki” on Monday 6 September between 12.50pm and 1.05pm will be listed as a Tier 2 public exposure site on the basis that we are unable to confidently identify all those who may have attended the café.

Household contacts

Accommodation assistance is available for any employee who needs or chooses to live in separate accommodation during their isolation period. Please call the Monash Health Employee Hotline on (03) 9594 5815, and accommodation can be arranged for you at no cost.

Please ensure PPE guidelines and standard precautions are followed.

 Standard Precautions are the minimum infection prevention practices that apply to all patient care, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status of the patient. Simply put, these are:

• Hand hygiene.
• Use the appropriate level of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) at all times.
• All ED (Emergency Department) employees are to wear N95 masks and eye protection as a minimum, and Tier 3 PPE for Low and High-risk suspected / Confirmed COVID-19 patients.
• Patients are to wear surgical masks if practical.
• Always take a moment to risk-assess the situation before any patient contact.
• If you cannot assess the situation, it’s better to be prepared with PPE: “if in doubt, don’t go without”.

You should also take a moment to review our COVID-19 procedure, which can be found on PROMPT.

It is essential that we all maintain vigilance and awareness of the risk of infection. Anyone who feels unwell or is displaying any COVID-19 symptoms must not attend work and should be tested.

Of course, should you have any concerns, please talk with your manager or call the Monash Health Employee Hotline on (03) 9594 5815, 7am to 8pm, seven days a week. If you are at all concerned for your wellbeing, please consult the employee health and wellbeing resources on our COVID-19 website.

Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive