As at 8 May 2021, the following directions apply for residential aged care facilities in Perth, Peel and Rottnest Island in Western Australia. These directions will continue in effect until 15 May 2021 or as advised by the WA Government.
Key Directions include:
A person must not enter, or remain on, the premises of a residential aged care facility in the above areas unless:
- they are an officer, employee or contractor of the residential aged care facility
- providing goods or services that are necessary for the effective operation of the residential aged care facility
- providing health, medical, or pharmaceutical services to a resident, whether the goods or services are provided for consideration or on a voluntary basis
- providing end of life support to a resident
- making a care and support visit to a resident, provided no more than four people per resident make a care and support visit on any given day
- providing emergency management, law enforcement or performing a function of a public authority
- the person’s presence at the premises is required for the proposes of performing a Commonwealth aged care regulatory function
- the person’s presence at the premises is in the person’s capacity as a prospective resident of the residential aged care facility.
Further exceptions and advice can be found on the WA Government website.
Masks must be worn for all staff, visitors, and contractors at residential aged care facilities.
Additionally, a person must not enter or remain on the premises of a residential aged care facility in the listed areas if in the preceding 14 days:
- the person has returned from overseas
- the person has been informed that the person is a close contact
- the person has any symptoms
- the person has not had an up to date vaccination against influenza.
WA aged care providers can find out more information by viewing the full direction and are encouraged to stay up to date via the WA Government website.
PPE
Aged care providers are asked to ensure they have a sufficient supply of PPE, to use their own supply of PPE first and to request extra supply as and when needed. If you urgently need PPE and cannot source it, please submit an online application. The application will need to be completed for your request to be considered. The Commonwealth is prioritising requests for PPE from the National Medical Stockpile to aged care services that are most in need.
Further information and advice
Please visit the Australian Government Department of Health website for information and resources to assist in preparing and managing a COVID-19 outbreak, including what to do in the first 24 hours of an outbreak in a residential aged care facility.