COVID-19 Alert: Monday 27 December – URGENT REMINDER for all employees to follow COVID-19 guidelines

Increased community transmission requires increased vigilance

In the past 36 hours, we have experienced a significant increase in Monash Health employees testing positive to COVID-19. In addition, people are also being identified as close contacts and not following the health guidance.

We have previously shared the increased number of infections in the community and advised that the Omicron variant is firmly established in Victoria. Australia is seeing a rapid rise in community transmission of Omicron, particularly in New South Wales and Victoria. As such, we can expect a larger number of employees to acquire the infection from within community settings and increase the risk of subsequent workplace exposures.

As the risk from within the community grows, so too must our vigilance. This is particularly important when working within a sensitive healthcare setting. Our vulnerable patients rely on us all to take every precaution to keep everyone safe.

Monash Health has been able to keep our vulnerable patients safe, and we have protected each other from infection through excellent maintenance of PPE and public health measures.

Unfortunately, we have recently had to manage issues with:

• A now positive health care worker employee attending work when infectious despite having symptomatic household members and no testing performed.
• The sharing of food at a nurse’s station which has subsequently resulted in a range of issues with one team member subsequently identified as COVID-19 positive.
• Increased tea room exposures.
• Exposure of a number of patients, including one who is now positive.

Our success as an organisation is based on teamwork and compliance with public health standards.  Failing to do so places additional risk on our patients and an increased burden on your colleagues due to increased absence from work.

Our tea and break rooms remain areas of concern

Tea and break rooms pose an increased risk when PPE is removed to eat and drink. We ask all employees to take the following precautions when taking breaks:

• Take tea and lunch breaks outdoors wherever possible.
• If an outdoor option is not available, breaks should be staggered to allow employees to sit the recommended distance apart or alone in tea rooms where PPE is removed.
• Read all the attestation questions carefully before commencing work every day; as advice changes, so will the questions.
• Do not come into work even if you have the slightest of symptoms. Get tested immediately and isolate.

Updated furlough requirements

If you believe you need to be absent from work due to a COVID-19 exposure or have received advice to do so, please contact the Employee COVID-19 Hotline on 8572 5610 (7am to 8pm – seven days a week) for advice.  For your information, we have updated the furlough requirements. Blue indicates the necessity to furlough.

Guidance for employees returning from overseas travel

As many of you will be taking time to travel overseas during this holiday period, you must note the following before you re-enter the health service:

• You have returned a negative PCR test upon your return AND
• An N95 is used at all times at work AND
• Surveillance testing is undertaken for two weeks AND
• Tea breaks are taken alone.
• The previous 7 and 3 day isolation periods no longer apply following overseas return.

Screening Clinic Holiday Opening Hours
If you need to get tested during the holiday period, the following information can assist you in accessing priority testing during this time:

• The Monash Health led screening service at the Clayton drive-through testing site will close from 25 – 28 December 2021 (inclusive) and 1 – 3 January 2022. Priority patient groups (maternity/theatres) will be diverted to the Dandenong drive-through testing site on these days.
• The Clayton drive-through (run by 4Cyte) will continue to operate throughout, with extended hours of 8am – 8pm. Employee priority access will be maintained at the Dandenong drive-through testing site.
• Information on surveillance testing can be found on the Employee Coronavirus Hub.

Guidance may change regularly in the days and weeks to come; please ensure you know the latest information via Chief Executive Updates and Alerts and iNews.

Thank you for the care and consideration you all show every day in keeping our workplace safe for all.

Andrew Stripp
Chief Executive