The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Paul Kelly, has approved an interim guidance to support safe assessment and decision making when determining whether to place work restrictions on aged care workers. The framework supports decisions based on the context of the exposure low-risk (social contact), high-risk (household or household like).
This guidance follows the updated advice on the definition of contacts issued by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) (here). This guidance has been endorsed by both National Cabinet and AHPPC. The changes should assist in managing the aged care workforce, noting the challenges many providers are facing given the increasing number of cases in the community.
Approved providers of aged care are responsible for notifying and communicating with their local PHU and the Commonwealth Department of Health of any positive cases. Where available, PHUs will consider applying a process of monitoring and evaluation locally, in line with jurisdictional requirements.
All providers are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this guidance and consider its application, noting local PHUs may implement additional requirements above those set out here.