SEM Covid-19 News- January 14th 2022

2022 COVID-19 Update St John of God SEM Hospitals (Berwick, Frankston, Pinelodge)

VICTORIAN SNAPSHOT

(as at Friday 14th Jan)

Cases 34,836 Hospitalised 976 (23 new) ICU 112 (1 new) Deaths 1,657 (18 new) 2nd dose vaccinated (16+) 92.6% 3rd dose vaccinated (16+) 20.6% Source: covidlive.com.au

SEPHU (South East Public Health Unit) SNAPSHOT (as at Friday 14th Jan)

SEPHU all new cases 9,985 SEPHU new PCR test cases 4,812 SEPHU new RA test cases 5,173

SEPHU total cases since 4/8/21 163,557 SEPHU deaths since 4/8/21 203

SEPHU New cases by LGA (top 5)

Casey 2110 21.1%

Greater Dandenong 965 9.7%

Mornington Peninsula 944 9.5% Kingston 919 9.2% Monash 885 9.9%

Source: Monash SEPHU daily report

Friday 14th January, 2022

New entry requirements for permitted visitors In line with Department of Health guidelines, our hospitals are still unable to accept visitors.

However, there continue to be some strict exceptions Including maternity partners, paediatric and end of life patients. From January 13th 2022, those who meet the permitted visitor criteria will see some changes upon entry.

We are now required to check vaccination status for all permitted visitors – if they are not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated approval for entry MUST be obtained by a member of the Executive Team.

If approved the following will occur • Path of travel is restricted directly to the patient room • RAT on arrival • N95 Mask To learn more and view the criteria for permitted visitors:

http://www.sjog.org.au/COVID-visitors

Get your 3rd dose now!

3rd dose booster vaccinations are now mandatory for all healthcare workers, 3 months from your second dose.

The Berwick vaccine clinic is available for all SEM caregivers and VMOs (Berwick, Pinelodge and Frankston) Caregiver walk-ins welcome. Healthcare workers are given priority.

Alternatively, make a booking by calling the Department of Health hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit www. coronavirus.vic.gov.au Located on ground floor, SJG Berwick Hospital, 75 Kangan Drive, Berwick.

Tues-Sat 8:30am – 4pm

Vaccination clinic Due to community need, the Berwick vaccination clinic will remain open beyond it’s expected closure at the end of January.

With 3rd dose boosters now mandatory for healthcare workers and children aged 5-11 years requiring the jab, there is still a large demand for vaccination administration.

Vaccines for children aged 5-11 are coming soon!

PPE: Prioritizing Patients Everyday We get it. Wearing PPE is getting tired. It’s been 2 years now with masks becoming an everyday fashion item.

But while we recognise it’s tough, wearing PPE is one of the very best ways we have to keep ourselves and our hospital community safe.

With Omicron cases seemingly everywhere, it’s not time to slack off either.

We’ve come up with a little acronym as a friendly reminder-

Prioritizing Patients Everyday

Fit testing coming soon Berwick Frankston Pinelodge

By wearing your PPE correctly, you are prioritizing your patients, and each other, every single day! If you need a refresher, a reminder or some new PPE please see your manager who will be happy to help.

If you’re spotted doing the right thing by a member of the Covid Response Team, you may just find yourself with a little prize too!

17/1/22 – 18/2/22 21/2/22 – 4/3/22 7/3/22 – 18/3/22

Fit testing is coming each of our SEM hospitals for all caregivers and doctors.

Frankston and Pinelodge caregivers and doctors are welcome to join the initial Berwick sessions or wait until testing is onsite at their location.

Watch this space!

MOre information to come next week!

SEM: Supporting the public sector Our SEM hospitals continue to play a key role in supporting the public sector during this time of extreme pressure.

RATs in our SEM hospitals

With elective surgery on hold, our SEM hospitals are taking public patients to free capacity in the local public hospitals.

As at 12/1/21 Berwick had 17 public patients with 6 incoming urology admissions and Frankston with 14 public patients.

RATs (Rapid antigen tests) are increasingly difficult to source in the community! However, our SJGHC supply team are keeping busy ensuring we have supply to service our patients and caregivers.

Pinelodge has been prepared for some time to assist by accepting patients if /when the need arises. As community need changes, discussions continue between SJGHC management and the local public health leaders as to how we can best support the joint fight against Covid-19.

If you have content to add to the Covid-19 update or if there is something more you’d like to see, please contact Lisa Carman, Marketing Manager on lisa.carman@sjog.org.au or 0407 682 501

EXPOSED?

Making sense of the latest Covid-19 rules and recommendations for healthcare workers

How do you classify as an exposed person?

An exposed person is one who has been exposed to a person who has tested positive to COVID-19. There are 3 types of exposed persons:-

1.

2.

3.

Close Contact Social Contact Workplace and Education Facility

1. Exposed person (Close Contact) A close contact is defined as an individual that resides or stays overnight in the same premises as a confirmed case or has had a total of four or more hours of contact (cumulative) in a residential setting during their infectious period, OR; An individual who has been determined to be a close contact of a diagnosed person by an officer or nominated representative of the department, including in the event of an outbreak, and has been given notice of this. *Close Contacts in the community are required to isolate for 7 days* There are changes to close contacts for essential workers (anyone who works in a hospital) which are listed below.

If you are a close contact then please discuss with you Manager who will seek Executive approval for your return to work plan. For VMO’s they can contact Dr John Monagle or Lisa Norman.

Exemptions for essential workers From 11:59pm, Tuesday 18 January, workers in emergency services, education, critical utilities, custodial facilities, transport and freight will be exempt from close contact home isolation requirements to attend their workplace.

Under the exemption, workers:

• May return to work it if is necessary for continuity of operations and if all other options have been exhausted

• Must notify their employer of their status as a contact, and both parties must consent to the worker

returning to the workplace

• Must be fully vaccinated (included a third dose where and when mandated)

• Must undertake a daily RAT for five days and turn a negative result prior to attending work each day

• Must wear a face mask at all times, with exceptions in the case of eating or drinking, safety reasons

(P2/N95 respirator preferred)

• Cannot enter shared break areas and the employer must try and facilitate solo break time If at any time the worker develops symptoms or tests positive on a RAT, the exemption no longer applies – they are a case, must isolate for 7 days, and must notify others including their employer

2. Exposed person (Social Contact) A social contact is defined as an individual who does not meet close contact definition and who has not been exposed in the workplace or education facility. The social contact must be:

• At least 15 minutes face to face contact, or

• Greater than 2 hours within the same room with a confirmed case of COVID-19 during their infectious period.

Testing Requirements

- It is strongly recommended that if asymptomatic the contact performs daily RAT testing for 5 days following notification.

- If a contact returns a positive RA test or develops symptoms, they must undertake a PCR test and isolate

until returning a negative result.

3. Exposed person (Workplace and Education Facility) A workplace or education facility contact is defined as an individual who does not meet the close contact definition and who – in any workplace or education facility - has had:

•

•

at least 15 minutes face to face contact, or greater than 2 hours within the same room (less than 100sqm) with a confirmed case of COVID-19 during their infectious period

Testing Requirements

• It is strongly recommended that if asymptomatic the contact performs daily RAT testing for 5 days following notification.

• If a contact returns a positive RA test or develops symptoms, they must undertake a PCR test and

isolate until returning a negative result.

Returning to Work after Social Workplace or Education Facility Contact Can return to work immediately if: • Asymptomatic

• Negative RAT test prior to working for 5 days from exposure

• Wears a N95 mask at work for 5 days from exposure

• Has meal breaks alone and not in a public area for 5 days from exposure

• Does not work in high risk areas where there are Immuno-compromised patients for 5 days from exposure