Dear all,

Despite the relaxed Covid-19 restrictions, the cases are upsurging rapidly within the community. On the 24th of June, the Department of Health and Human Services have provided updated guidance to RACFs, the importance of Covid safe and ECH’s current practices are endorsed and emphasized. Details as followed:

ECH will continue maintain the highest standard of infection control with zero outbreak, working our best to keep our residents safe from Covid-19. Though above 85% of our residents have already been vaccinated with flu and winter dose (Covid-19 fourth dose), the impact of the virus can still be serious due to their medical conditions.

Below is a summary of the key points of the guidance: Entry Requirements
There are no limits on visitor numbers. All visitors to RACFs must have a negative result from a COVID-19 rapid antigen test taken on the same day that they attend the care facility.
All visitors must wear a face covering while visiting a RACF.

Visitor Declarations All visitors must declare in writing at the start of their visit that they:
are free of COVID-19 symptoms (other than symptoms caused by health condition or medication); and
are not currently required to self-isolate, self-quarantine or a close contact in accordance with the Quarantine, Isolation and Testing Order; and
have received a negative result from a COVID-19 rapid antigen test on the same day that they attend the care facility.

All other Covid safe practices continue at ECH are summarized as follows. Please kindly refer to memo 20220122 for more details:
Flu and Covid vaccination programs for all residents and staff
Wearing of P2 / N95 (ECH already complete another round of Fit testing for all staff as always supported by WorkSafe Victoria) when in ECH including visitors
Continue providing P2 / N95 to residents for outings
RAT testing for staff prior to working
RAT testing for residents returning to ECH post outings
RAT testing for all other people prior to entering ECH
Daily Covid screening for all residents
During residents outings, please exercise the highest precautions as per Covid precautions in the community e.g. good hand washing, social distancing, and consider wearing N95 / P2 masks when in the community.
Please contact ECH Nurse in charge of supply and proper wearing of N95 / P2 masks if encounter problems.
Support visits to occur in a resident’s room, outdoors, or in a specific area rather than
communal areas with other residents.
Indoor visits should occur in well-ventilated areas. Open windows to provide natural
ventilation, provided the outdoor temperature is suitable.

There is no change with the recommendation for support safe visitation as per DHHS:
Follow the guidance about wearing masks indoors, screening visitors, and visitor
declarations.
Remind visitors about safety measures such as hand hygiene and wearing masks
properly (by both directly reminding visitors and indirectly, such as via signs in the
facility reminding visitors about these measures).
Practice social distancing where possible and appropriate. Place signage or provide fact
sheets to remind visitors of physical distancing requirements.
Visitors are required to wear the same personal protective equipment (PPE) that staff
is required to wear when caring for a resident (as above, wearing N95 / P2 when
providing care).
Visitors must not visit if they are unwell or meet any of the excluded visitor criteria.

Excluded Visitors
While visitors are allowed, under the Pandemic Hospitals and Care Facilities Order, some
people are not permitted to enter a care facility. This includes people who:
Have symptoms of Covid-19
Have had a Covid-19 PCR test and are waiting for the result
Are required to isolate or quarantine
Have had contact with a Covid-19 positive person in the past (self-isolation requirements
refer to DHHS website for further details) https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-
19/testing-positive

Exemptions

Visitors may be exempt from entry requirements if they:
are a person visiting for the purpose of an end-of-life visit
are a person providing urgent support for a resident’s immediate physical, cognitive, or
emotional wellbeing, where it is not practicable for the person to take a COVID-19 rapid
antigen test prior to entering the care facility
are providing professional patient care as an emergency, healthcare, or an ambulance
worker
have undertaken a COVID-19 PCR test within 24 hours prior to visiting the care facility and
provided acceptable evidence of a negative result from that test to the operator of the care
facility.
Please be patient with the waiting times for the RAT results and any precaution measures as
instructed by DHHS.
We seek your understanding and support to make ECH a harassment-free working environment for
our staff.
Kindly share this update with other family members who may wish to be kept informed.