COVID-19 Alert: 4 January 2022 – Updated Furlough Guidance / Campus based PCR testing now available for asymptomatic employees

Updated Furlough Guidance / Campus based PCR testing now available for asymptomatic employees

Guidelines for people with COVID-19, close contacts, testing, and isolation requirements in community and healthcare settings, have all changed in line with a risk-based assessment.

The changes may feel unusual, as we were accustomed to specific PCR testing and furloughing requirements for some time. However, as we have become familiar, we learn more every day and make changes to our practice based on those learnings. Epidemiology and local and international evidence supports the safe return with minimal risk to healthcare workers, patients and the community following shorter seven-day isolation of COVID-19 cases.

We move forward with our entire workforce vaccinated, high vaccination rates within our community and strong public health measures.

Safety will always be paramount. Residual low risks are being managed by additional measures for healthcare workers to ensure our service remains safe for employees, patients, and our community.

The updated guidelines will ensure healthcare services and workers are safely guided and supported through this phase of the pandemic without additional PCR testing and furloughing when it is not warranted.

The updates also outline new definitions for contacts, and that healthcare workers can return to work under careful and specific circumstances.

Please read the guidelines below carefully as there are significant changes.

If you test positive or believe you are a close contact, please call the Monash Health Employee COVID-19 Hotline on 8572 5610, 7am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Please continue carefully following PPE guidelines and if you are symptomatic, do not come into work, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Updated furlough guidance

Furlough Guidance (Healthcare Workers)

Symptomatic 

• Isolate and get PCR test 
• Return to work if negative PCR result is obtained and asymptomatic

Social contacts/Workplace contacts (less than four hours contact) 

• Return to work if asymptomatic, and:
  • Work exclusively in an N95 mask
  • No use of shared break areas and remain separate from other colleagues/employees during breaks
  • Participate in employee surveillance testing (PCR or RATs) for seven days

Returned travellers from overseas 

• Test and isolate until negative PCR result
• Return to work if asymptomatic, and:
  • Work exclusively in an N95 mask
  • No use of shared break areas and remain separate from other colleagues/employees during breaks
  • Participate in employee surveillance testing (PCR or RATs) for seven days after a negative PCR test is returned

Furlough Guidance Commencing (Healthcare Workers)

Close contacts (greater than four hours)

• Isolate for seven days in the community as per Department of Health Guidelines 
• Return to work if: 
  • Asymptomatic and a negative RAT test
  • Work exclusively in an N95 mask
  • No use of shared break areas and remain separate from other colleagues/employees during breaks
  • Participate in employee surveillance (PCR or RATs) testing for seven days

Household case (lives in the same household as HCW)

• Isolate for seven days in the community as per Department of Health Guidelines 
• Return to work if: 
  • Asymptomatic and return negative PCR test on day 6
  • Work exclusively in an N95 mask
  • No use of shared break areas and remain separate from other colleagues/employees during breaks
  • Participate in employee surveillance (PCR or RATs) testing for seven days

COVID-19 Case Release Guidance

Confirmed infection

• Isolate for seven days in the community as per Department of Health Guidelines
• Released automatically after day 7 from positive result

Confirmed Healthcare Worker Case 

• Isolate for seven days in the community as per Department of Health Guidelines
• Released automatically after Day 7 from positive result 
• Return to work after day 7 if: 
  • Feeling well enough to work
  • Afebrile (no fever) for 48 hours
  • Improved symptoms and cleared via phone conversation with Monash Health Employee COVID-19 Hotline
  • Able to wear an N95 mask comfortable

Site-based priority COVID-19 PCR testing available for employees

Monash Health employees who have been identified as a close contact, are asymptomatic and are required to get a PCR test can now do so at our hospital based Pathology collection centres at Clayton, Casey, Dandenong and Moorabbin.

No booking is required. If you are asymptomatic, you can walk in and get tested, but please wear an N95 mask as per current guidelines. We ask that you have your employee ID and Medicare card with you and that you pre-register your details using the Victorian Department of Health’s Testing Registration Form, which will speed up the information collection process when you get tested.

The following site-based locations are now available for asymptomatic Monash Health employees:

• Clayton
  • Pathology Collection Centre, Suite G, Jessie McPherson Private Hospital
  • Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm
  • Saturday, 8am – 2pm
• Casey Hospital
  • Pathology Collection Centre, Ground Floor
  • Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm
• Dandenong Hospital
  • Pathology Collection Centre, Ground Floor (level 2)
  • Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm
  • Saturday and Sunday, 8am – 12 noon
• Moorabbin Hospital
  • Pathology Collection Centre, Level 2
  • Monday – Friday, 8am – 5pm

As has been our advice from the beginning of the pandemic, we ask you not to come into work even if you have the slightest of symptoms. As these four Pathology collection centres are located within our hospitals, you should only attend the above locations for a PCR test if you are asymptomatic.

For asymptomatic employees looking to get tested at these locations and who will fail their attestation due to being a close contact, please call the Monash Health Employee COVID-19 Hotline on 8572 5610 for advice and to arrange entry.

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