As announced on Friday 17 December, all Queensland private and public Residential aged care providers should follow guidance in the Personal Protective Equipment in Residential Aged Care and Disability Accommodation Services guidelines to moderate risk category. These changes take effect from 3pm 17 December 2021. A letter from the Queensland Health COVID-19 Response Lead Officer regarding these changes can be found here.
From 1am AEST Saturday 18 December, face masks are required in Queensland when visiting hospitals, disability accommodation services and residential aged care facilities or in other circumstances, please see the general webpage here for more information, which will soon include links to the new Public Health Face Mask Requirements Direction that will outline these requirements.
In concert with the updates above, providers are reminded that from 17 December, under the Residential Aged Care Direction No. 11, unvaccinated persons other than a resident cannot enter and remain on the premises of a RACF in Queensland unless the person is:
- under 16 years of age
- unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine because of a recognised medical contraindication and has evidence of a recognised medical contraindication
- a COVID-19 vaccine trial participant, and receipt of a Therapeutic Goods Administration approved vaccine would impact the validity of the trial. As this exemption is temporary, the medical certificate must not have expired.
- entering the premises for an end of life visit for a resident of the residential aged care facility; or
- entering the premises to provide support to a resident in an emergency situation.
- a parent, carer, guardian or support person who provides care or support to a resident of a residential aged care facility, including advocacy services.