Protecting our healthcare workers
Victoria’s healthcare workers are the last line in our defence against coronavirus (COVID-19).
Protecting our healthcare workers (PDF) sets out the very latest in our understanding of coronavirus (COVID-19) and how it can spread within healthcare settings – both hospitals and aged care facilities.
It also outlines the additional steps that will be taken in order to help address these challenges.
Advice for frontline workers
If your normal work involves moving between health services, you can continue to do this to provide care and do your job.
But you must not go to work if you are unwell.
For more details, see:
Getting tested as a healthcare or aged care worker
If you have symptoms of coronavirus you should get tested. When you get tested you should tell the person taking your test that you are a healthcare or aged care worker to ensure your test results are given priority.
People who are at higher risk of infection due to their environmental exposure should also be tested if they have new onset of other clinical symptoms associated with coronavirus (COVID-19) (e.g. headache, myalgia, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea) AND meet the following epidemiological criteria:
- Close contacts of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19).
- Returned overseas travel in the past 14 days.
- Health care or aged care workers.
When do I have to quarantine or self-isolate?
You must quarantine for 14 days if you have come into close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19).
If you have been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19), you are required to self-isolate until you receive a clearance from isolation from the Department of Health and Human Services. The Department will discuss these requirements with you.
Healthcare workers who have returned from overseas will be placed in mandatory quarantine for 14 days.
You must not enter or remain at a hospital in Victoria if:
- you have been diagnosed with coronavirus (COVID-19) and not yet met the criteria for discharge from isolation.
- you have arrived in Australia from any country in the past 14 days.
- you have had known contact with a person who is a confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) case without using recommended infection control precautions, including use of recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
If you have taken the recommended infection control precautions while caring for a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19), including use of recommended Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), you are not considered to be a close contact and do not need to quarantine.
Emergency accommodation for healthcare workers
As an agency worker, if you have tested positive for COVID-19 and are required to isolate but do not have somewhere safe to stay for your 14 day period there are options for you. You would be eligible for this program in the event that you do test positive.
The Hotel for Heroes program – or coronavirus (COVID-19) Emergency Accommodation (CEA) program – provides emergency accommodation for frontline workers required to quarantine or self-isolate, but are unable to do so in their home.
The Hotels for Heroes program is also available to eligible frontline workers who regularly work in an environment that involves consistent exposure to coronavirus (COVID-19) positive patients, who need accommodation on compassionate grounds, or those who cannot safely self-isolate or quarantine at home.
Hotels for Heroes – Emergency accommodation program staff information – 29 July 2020 (Word)
For more details, see:
