Chief Executive Update – 13 July 2022

Chief Executive Update – 13 July 2022

As of today, we have: 

• 96 COVID-19 positive inpatients
• 283 employees with COVID-19 
• 27 employees in precautionary quarantine
• 78 employees who are primary close contacts and working under public health exemption

In this update, we cover: 

• Face masks are mandatory in all areas at Monash Health
• Staying safe outside work – wear a mask
• Working remotely
• Face-to-face meetings and training
• Sharing food
• Where to get the winter COVID-19 vaccination dose
• Getting tested
• What to do if you are a close contact
• What to do if you are symptomatic
• What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 
• Accessing early therapies/antivirals
• Visitation and conditions of entry
• Looking after yourself 

As we progress into winter, we are seeing a rise in respiratory illnesses brought about by COVID-19, influenza and colds. We expect these numbers to continue to grow until the end of August, increasing pressure on our health service.

We can protect ourselves, our patients and each other by following our first principles and the updated guidelines below.

You do not have to wait for mandates and can take action early in many ways. If you have not already done so, please get your flu vaccine; it is readily available and free at pharmacies, general practitioners and from Monash Health. If you are eligible, we encourage you to get the Winter booster of the COVID-19 vaccine (fourth dose).

Remember your hand hygiene and physically distance where you can. Wear a mask even if it isn’t mandatory, and do not come to work if you are unwell (see ‘What to do if you are symptomatic’ below).

The updated settings below are effective immediately.

Face masks are mandatory in all areas at Monash Health

Face masks are mandatory again in all areas of Monash Health, including shared office areas.

• In non-clinical areas, the minimum requirement is a surgical mask.
• In clinical areas caring for non-COVID/non-SCOVID patients, an N95 and standard precautions are required.
• In clinical areas caring for COVID and SCOVID patients, N95 and eye protection, gloves and gowns are required.

Masks are not required when an employee is alone in an office.

Don’t forget your annual N95 fit test

N95 mask fit testing is an annual requirement for patient-facing employees. You can check your fit test card to determine when you are due for your annual refit.

Most refit appointments don’t take as long as the original fit tests. Learn how to make a booking here.

Staying safe outside work – wear a mask

Masks are not mandated in many settings, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wear them. As healthcare professionals, we need to be mindful of attending large indoor gatherings and, given the level of sickness in the community, should seriously consider wearing a mask.

Working remotely

Remote working arrangements should be considered for administrative and non-patient-facing roles, where it is safe and practical to do so.

Remote working is unlikely to be suitable for roles where direct patient/customer service or an on-site presence is a key feature.

The decision is at the discretion of your manager and requires a Working Remotely Agreement to be in place. Refer to our Working Remotely Procedure in PROMPT.

Face-to-face meetings and training

Face-to-face meetings and training should not take place except where clinically required. Please consider alternative meeting options such as MS Teams, Webex and phone. Where face-to-face meetings need to occur, masks must be worn, and physical distancing (1.5m) should be observed where possible.

Sharing food

Sharing food remains a transmission risk for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Please do not share food, including cakes, in the workplace.

Where to get the winter COVID-19 vaccination dose

On 7 July 2022, ATAGI expanded the eligibility criteria for the winter dose.

Eligibility

The winter dose is now available to adults aged 30 and above. It is recommended that Adults aged 50 to 64 years receive a winter booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

You can receive the winter dose three months after your third dose or after being infected with COVID-19 (if the infection has occurred since your third dose).

Where to get your vaccination

You can get a fourth dose of the vaccine through your GP, local pharmacy, the Frankston Community Vaccination Hub or at the Dandenong Plaza, Level 3, 23-55 McCrae Street, Dandenong.

Use COVID-19 Near me to find a vaccination clinic near you.

Bookings are recommended as neither site is operated by Monash Health. Call the Coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or book online.

There is no indication at this time that the winter vaccination dose will be mandatory for Health Care Workers. Accordingly, Monash Health does not require evidence of your winter dose.

Getting tested

Many state-run testing sites across Victoria provide PCR tests and supply RAT kits. You can collect free RAT kits on behalf of individuals listed on your Medicare card.

To find your closest COVID-19 testing site, operating hours, and wait times, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au. Look in the ‘Other site details’ under the ‘More info’ dropdown for each site to see which ones carry RAT kits.

The Monash University Clayton drive-through testing site at 133 Wellington Road, Clayton, will be the closest site for many of our team members working on site.

What to do if you are a close contact

You are a close contact if you have spent more than four hours with someone who has COVID-19 inside a house, accommodation or care facility without appropriate PPE in place.

Healthcare workers who are close contacts and have no symptoms can attend work provided you:

• Notify your manager and complete the Monash Health Close Contact Form
• Undertake daily RAT testing for five days
• Wear an N95 while on-site 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
• You have not experienced a fever in the past 24 hours

You must:

• Notify your manager and complete the Monash Health Close Contact Form
• Undertake daily RAT testing for five days
• Wear an N95 while on-site 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.

What to do if you are symptomatic

If you have tested negative for COVID-19 and your symptoms are improving or completely recovered, you may be able to return to work.

You 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

You must wear an N95 while on-site and have breaks alone until your symptoms are resolved.

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.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19

Your first priority is your health and wellbeing. COVID-19 can be a serious illness. If your symptoms are severe or worsen, contact your GP or call the Department of Health hotline on 1800 675 398.

Reporting a positive test result

If you test positive for COVID-19, please let your manager know and complete our online COVID-19 Positive Notification Form. If you received a positive result using a RAT, you also need to notify the Department of Health using their COVID-19 Positive Rapid Antigen Test Self-Reporting Form.

Isolating at home

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 you must isolate to prevent the spread of infection. The day you received a positive result is Day 0. You can return to work on Day 7 if you are free of symptoms.

Support and guidance

The COVID-19 and you factsheet has been developed for employees who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms.

Accessing early therapies/antivirals

Early therapies or antivirals are available for eligible people who have COVID-19 to prevent them from getting so sick that they need to go to the hospital.

Eligibility:

• Any Australian who tests positive to COVID-19 and is over the age of 70
• People aged over 50 with at least two risk factors that could lead to severe disease
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 and older with at least two risk factors

Access to antivirals is via GPs.

Visitation and conditions of entry

We have reviewed our visitor management processes and no changes have been made at this time. You can view our current visiting guidance here.

Looking after yourself

We have a busy couple of months ahead, but we have been here before and know we are up to the task. We can also take some comfort that vaccination and a bank of knowledge place us in a far stronger position than earlier COVID-19 waves.

I appreciate, however, that this winter, will be challenging, and we cannot dismiss the feelings of uncertainty and the cumulative effect the past two years have had. Support is available to you and outlined on the Employee Wellbeing page of the intranet. Please reach out to your manager, the Employee Assistance Program, or managers can use the Be Well Program for their teams.

These settings will be reviewed regularly

We will review these settings regularly to ensure they remain appropriate to the level of infection risk in the community, making adjustments as required. If you have questions or concerns please escalate them through your line manager.

Thank you for your continued commitment to providing the best possible care. We couldn’t do this without you.

Martin Keogh
Acting Chief Executive