The Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District hospitals and facilities have relaxed some requirements around visiting hours and the use of masks given the fact that there has been no community transmission of COVID-19 in NSW for more than three weeks.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Those visiting hospitals and facilities should note the following:
Visiting hours will continue to be divided into two separate sessions and times remain the same (11am-1pm) and (5pm-7pm).
Starting Monday, November 30, patients on general wards are now allowed two visitors at a time during visiting hours.
Three visitors at a time are permitted if an adult is accompanying a child during visiting hours.
Screening prior to entry at facilities will remain in place, but visitors no longer need to wear a mask unless visiting the Emergency Department, Cancer Care, or a patient with acute respiratory illness.
Anyone with respiratory symptoms should not visit patients in hospital.
Read more:
The District will maintain a cautious approach to the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including the following processes:
The use of PPE for any suspected, probable or confirmed case of COVID-19 remains unchanged.
Staff in the following areas will continue to wear a mask - Emergency Departments, COVID Assessment Clinics, Cancer Care and when attending to patients with respiratory conditions.
Staff in others areas providing routine patient care no longer need to wear a mask.
Patients presenting to the Emergency Department will continue to wear a mask.
Patients with acute respiratory illness will continue to wear a mask, if their condition allows.
While NSW has had 23 days without a locally acquired case of COVID-19, there still may be transmission among people who have unrecognised infections with mild or no symptoms.
The Local Health District is reminding the community that fundamental principles of infection prevention and control including physical distancing, regular hand hygiene and cough etiquette should continue.
A reminder also that you should not be visiting patients in hospital if you are unwell or have been tested for COVID and are awaiting results.
Please visit the Local Health District's website for more information about COVID-19: https://www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services-clinics/public-health-unit/infectious- diseases/covid-19-latest-advice-and-resources
Details of local testing facilities and opening hours are available on the ISLHD's website.
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.
