28 July 2022
Dear family member/resident representative,
Thank you for your support as we’ve managed the risk of COVID-19 in your loved one’s aged care centre.
Since writing to you yesterday, I am glad to let you know that all of our COVID-19 positive residents are now free of the virus, having reached their full recovery criteria.
We also received the results of our last round of PCR tests for residents in the Melaleuca and Grevillia wings and all were negative.
With this pleasing news, the local public health unit has advised the outbreak in the Melaleuca and Grevillia wings will officially end at midnight tonight.
The public health unit has provided us with guidance to begin our transition back to regular operations at the care centre and tomorrow we will begin to ease a number of precautions in place, including the resumption of meals in dining areas, and activities in common areas.
Updated visiting arrangements
While we work through the transition back to normal operations, we encourage you to postpone your visit until Monday 1 August 2022 when normal visiting arrangements will resume. If you still wish to visit before then, please be aware of the following arrangements:
- Two visitors per resident and by appointment only.
- No children under the age of 12 permitted.
- All visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test and wait for the result before entering the care centre.
- All visitors must wear all necessary PPE while in the care centre including a P2/N95 mask and a face shield which will be provided on entry.
- Please wear your mask correctly and at all times (do not remove it while you are in your loved one’s room. It will not work unless you are wearing it properly all the time).
- Please put the mask and face shield in the specially marked bins as you leave the care centre.
- If you are visiting a close contact or someone who is COVID-19 positive you will also be asked to wear a gown. Please follow the instructions for putting it on and removing it safely.
- Please co-operate with staff if they ask you to adjust your PPE so that it is worn correctly. They are working to ensure the safety of everyone in the care centre and their efforts are made easier with your support.
Visiting from 1 August 2022
From Monday 1 August 2022, visiting arrangements will resume as follows:
- There is no limit to the number of visitors (of any age) that a resident can have at any one time. I do ask that you be mindful of the surrounding environment and size of your loved one’s room.
- All visitors are asked to complete their own rapid antigen test at home or on arrival at the centre and provide proof of the negative result (photo or actual test). The stations at the care centre are self-serve so our staff can be more available to residents in their roles as carers.
- If a visitor is unable to complete their own rapid antigen test they will need to make an appointment at the care centre for the test to be conducted by staff prior to entry. Contact numbers for staff to assist are displayed at self-serve rapid antigen testing stations.
- Unless, as above, assistance is required with rapid antigen testing on entry appointments for visits are no longer required.
- All visitors are to complete the wellness questionnaire on arrival. This includes confirmation that they have had at least 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and the 2022 influenza vaccine.
- All visitors must wear surgical masks when visiting a resident in their room or a P2N95 mask if visiting a resident in common areas (in this case, the Care Centre will provide visitors with the P2N95 mask).
- No cloth masks are permitted.
As always please do not visit your loved one if you are experiencing any symptoms or are feeling unwell, even if the symptoms are mild. Even if you have a negative COVID-19 test result you may still have influenza or another virus which is highly contagious.
Please pass this message on to others as you consider appropriate and if you have any questions please contact your Care Manager.
Thank you for your support.
Yours sincerely,
Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres
