With all the feedback being communicated it can be tricky to know what you should and shouldn’t be doing. Please follow these directions as given by the Dept of Health and Human Services.
Protect yourself from the Coronavirus by washing your hands regularly with soap and water and try not to touch your face including your eyes, nose or mouth. One way to become infected is to transfer the virus from a contaminated surface to your face or mouth by touching. More from @VicGovDHHS https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus #COVID19
Practice good respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, cough into your elbow, dispose of tissues and wash your hands with soap afterwards. Find out more about the #coronavirus disease in Victoria: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus #COVID19.
Personal hygiene is an important protection against coronavirus disease and all respiratory illnesses. This includes washing hands regularly, especially after using toilet and before eating. Get the latest information for Victorians: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus #COVID19.
Restrictions on hospital visitors & workers
There are now restrictions on who can visit or work at a Victorian hospital. Please see https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/factsheet-visitors-hospitals-24-march-2020-2
This is to help reduce the spread of coronavirus into hospitals by people who may pose a risk and do not have an important reason to be there.
What restrictions will be placed on visits?
Across Victoria, patients in public, private and denominational hospitals, multi-purpose services and day procedure centres will only be allowed one visit per day, from a maximum of two visitors at one time for two hours a day.
Who is prohibited from visiting a Victorian hospital? To keep patients and staff safe you will not be able to visit a hospital if you
have been diagnosed with coronavirus and have not been discharged from isolation
have arrived in Australia within 14 days of your planned visit
have recently come into contact with a person who has a confirmed case of coronavirus
have a temperature over 37.5 degrees or symptoms of acute respiratory infection.
Are there exemptions to these rules?
There are some categories where visitors can stay longer than two hours, but the maximum limit of two visitors at a time will still apply. These exemptions are:
the parent, guardian or temporary carer of a patient who is under 18 years old
the carer of a patient with a disability
the partner or support person of a patient who is pregnant and attending hospital in relation to their pregnancy
accompanying a patient to the hospital’s emergency department
accompanying the patient to an outpatient appointment
providing end of life support to a patient of the hospital.
All visitors can expect to be screened on entry
Before you can enter any hospital to visit a patient in one of the above categories, you will be screened to ensure you do not have a temperature. Further advice on implementation will be provided shortly.
Who can work at a Victorian hospital?
The only people who may enter hospitals for work purposes are:
a person who is an employee or contractor of the hospital
a student under the supervision of an employee or contractor of the hospital
a person providing health, medical or pharmaceutical goods or services to a patient of the hospital (whether paid or voluntary)
a person providing goods or services necessary for the effective operation of the hospital (whether paid or voluntary)
union and employer representatives
a person involved in emergency management or law enforcement
a person who enters an area of the hospital exempted from the restriction.
For further detailed information please visit: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/health-services-and-general-practitioners-coronavirus-disease-covid-19
