COVID-19 and Influenza Response Plans

As at Friday 26 March, Metro North is in Tier 1 response, PPE requirements medium risk. At the discretion of the Metro North executive in addition to the response outlined in the Response plan, there are also the following restrictions in place:

Visitors: In accordance with the requirements of operating within a restricted area, we are enacting the required visitor restrictions at the direction of the Chief Health Officer, which means that visitors to hospital are restricted to the following scenarios:

• One parent or carer of a patient of the hospital who is a child;
• One carer of a patient of the hospital who is being provided pregnancy or maternity related care (NB: up to two may be allowed for emergency or other compassionate grounds on a case-by-case basis);
• One carer of a patient of the hospital who has a disability and requires support from a disability support worker or an informal carer;
• Visitors for a patient of the hospital who is receiving end of life care (up to a limit imposed by the operator of the hospital – generally 2 persons at any one time);
• Visitors to a patient of the hospital for emergency or other compassionate grounds (e.g. intensive care, emergency department) – (up to a limit imposed by the operator of the hospital – generally 1 person per day for approximately 2 hours)

PPE:

• All visitors are to wear a surgical mask
• All non-COVID-19 patients (excluding paediatric patients) are to wear a surgical mask where tolerated, unless an inpatient in their own bed
• All suspected / probable / confirmed COVID-19 patients (excluding paediatric patients) are to wear a surgical mask where tolerated, unless an inpatient in their own bed
• All Hospital staff undertaking activities other than patient care are to wear a surgical mask
• All Hospital staff undertaking routine care and Aerosol generating procedures of non-COVID-19 patients (within 1.5m) are to wear a surgical mask and protective eyewear
• All Hospital staff undertaking routine care of suspected / probably / confirmed COVID-19 patients are to wear a surgical mask, protective eyewear, gown and gloved
• All Hospital staff undertaking Aerosol generating procedures for suspected / probable / confirmed COVID-19 patients are to wear a P2/N95 respirator, protective eyewear, gown and gloves.

These requirements also apply to outreach and ‘in the home’ services provided to Metro North.

For full PPE requirements refer to PPE Escalation document medium risk.