Update advice for NSW residential aged care facilities and home care service providers

The Department of Health has updated their advice for NSW residential aged care facilities and home care service providers.

Date published:
Type:
Subscriber announcement
Audience:
Health sector

NSW providers are advised of updated advice for Residential Aged Care Facilities and Home Care Service Providers. As of Tuesday 29 December:

  • Until further notice, all staff and visitors must wear a surgical mask whilst in a residential aged care facility.
  • Until at least 11.59pm on Wednesday 6 January 2021:
    • All residential aged care facilities in the Greater Sydney area (including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong City Council) must exclude visitors, except those performing essential caring functions.
    • No visitors from Greater Sydney are permitted to visit residents in regional aged care facilities. There are no restrictions on people from regional NSW visiting residents in regional facilities.
    • Exclude staff and visitors who:
      • have been in any of the locations:
        • on the self-isolate and get tested immediately list, at the times and dates listed
        • on the monitor for symptoms list, at the times and dates listed except where noted otherwise on the web page
        • have a fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19 (acute blocked nose congestion has been added to the list of symptoms)
        • are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period
        • live in a household with a person who is identified as a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19.

Aged care facilities are not currently required to have a QR code. However, NSW Health has strongly recommended that aged care facilities use QR codes to keep track of visitors. Providers will be updated if this requirement changes.

Regularly visit the NSW COVID-19 website for updates on areas of active community transmission.