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National Cabinet’s decision on Friday 30 September 2022 means the end for mandatory isolation for anyone testing positive for COVID-19, from 14 October 2022, except for “workers in aged care, disability care, aboriginal healthcare and hospital care sectors”.
VAHPA is disappointed that National Cabinet has chosen to remove the last significant public health mitigation. Despite relatively low numbers of community cases and COVID hospitalisations, the emergence of new variants in the UK and Europe highlights the risk of the next wave of infections as immune evasive variants of concern gather momentum across the globe. The Victorian Government’s own modelling shows the next wave is likely to hit this summer. With public health mitigations scrapped, VAHPA fears for the impact on hospitals over Christmas, and the escalating burden and risks for Allied Health Professionals.
VAHPA has issued a statement about COVID Isolation changes which you can download here.
The Covid Winter Response Matrix (download here) was downgraded from Stage 3 to Stage 2 on 26 September 2022. This should have little impact for AHPs other than ensuring that hospitals are not using extended models of care with redeployed staff (unless via special approvals). Importantly, there has been no downgrading of the PPE guidance.
The settings in most hospitals have exceeded the requirements for some time with the broad use of N95s in response to high staff infections leading to high rates of furloughing. VAHPA is aware that some hospitals have now put out memos telling staff to change from N95s to surgical masks unless they are directly working with Covid or Scovid patients. Check that any changes to PPE in your workplace still meet the minimum guidance.
Guide for PPE in hospitals can be downloaded here: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/guide-conventional-use-ppe-covid-19-doc
Guide for PPE use in non-hospital healthcare settings here: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/personal-protective-equipment-ppe-community-service-providers-prevention-covid-19-doc
VAHPA has sought assurances from the Victorian Department of Health that there would be no reduction in PPE standards. Besides confirming that the PPE guidance has not been changed, we have been given assurance that anyone who wants an N95 should have access to them. Remember, if you wear an N95 you should ensure you have been fit tested in the last 12 months. If you have concerns or you are experiencing difficulty accessing appropriate PPE or fit testing, please contact VAHPA info@vahpa.asn.au
Reminder: for AHPs employed by public hospitals, the second half of your Winter Retention Bonus is now due and should be paid by the end of October.