Following a NSW Health directive, all hospitals in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District have escalated their COVID-19 transmission risk to high, known as Red Alert.
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The decision is in response to the evolving situation across NSW and the increasing levels of community transmission.
Starting from 7pm tonight, there are no visitors allowed in our hospitals except:
- One partner / support person may support mothers during labour and birth. The same partner / support person may visit after birth in the post-natal ward for unrestricted periods between 8am-8pm.
- One parent of a child admitted under Paedatrics services
- For end-of-life patients, visitors are only limited to the extent necessary to minimise risk.
- Others as approved by the Nurse Unit Manager, for example, a patient requiring particular support because of cognitive impairment.
All of the allowed visitors must be fully vaccinated and wear a mask at all times.
Staff will continue to use Personal Protective Equipment as set out in the Red Alert protocol.
The move comes as NSW hit a daily record of new COVID case numbers with 1,742 infections detected in Thursday's update.
Twenty-three of those cases were recorded in the ISLHD, with the majority in Wollongong. One case was recorded in the Shoalhaven.
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There is no change in the current operations for elective surgery, inpatient and outpatient services, cancer screening services, mental health and other clinical services.
COVID-19 Safe QR check-ins are required at our hospitals and updated screening questions will apply. If you are entering the hospital as a visitor, you must continue to check in with the Service.NSW app
More information on the current rules and restrictions, regardless of vaccination status, is available on the NSW Government website.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District also urges the community to continue to come forward for vaccination. Everyone in Australia aged 12 and over can receive a COVID-19 vaccination.
For more information visit www.health.gov.au.
Bookings for those aged 5 to 11 will open shortly.
The District's vaccination clinics are also offering a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine to people aged 18 years and older, five months after their second dose.
Appointments are preferred and can be made by calling the ISLHD Booking Team on 1300 096 365 during business hours, or online via the ISLHD COVID-19 Vaccination Support form.
In addition to the District's clinics, booster shots are available at local general practitioners and pharmacies.
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