Staff News

In response to the Health System Response de-escalation to Stage 2, effective on 31/01/23 and the decreasing COVID-19 hospitalisations, we are able to make adjustments to our mask settings.

The Pandemic Management Committee will continue to monitor the risks and make changes to our approach as needed.

The new mask settings are effective immediately.

Updated Mask requirements as of 17/02/23:

STAFF

• N95 must be worn by staff in all inpatient clinical areas and high risk and vulnerable clinical settings*
• Surgical masks must be worn by staff in all other clinical areas and patient access areas (staff may continue to wear N95 masks if they choose to)
• Surgical masks are optional for staff in all other non-patient access areas and where physical distancing is possible – for example offices

PATIENTS

• Inpatients must wear a surgical mask if leaving their room/ward
• Patients attending renal dialysis or outpatient appointments in haematology/oncology clinics an outpatient appointment must wear an N95 mask

VISITORS

• Front of house check-in will be retained at all Eastern Health sites
• Visitors to our sites must wear a surgical mask unless they are entering into one of Eastern Health’s high risk or vulnerable clinical settings*
• Visitors entering into one of our high risk or vulnerable clinical settings at Eastern Health must wear an N95 mask*
• Proof of Negative RAT result prior to entry to high risk and vulnerable clinical settings* will continue

*High risk and vulnerable settings includes clinical areas in:

• Mental Health inpatient unit
• Peter James Centre and Wantirna Health
• Renal dialysis
• Haematology and oncology inpatient ward and outpatient clinics
• Residential Aged Care
• Ambulatory (including @home care) settings