Health care workers exposed to COVID-19 are to be subject to new requirements following advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).
Announced by the Department of Health, the updated guidance recognises that health care workers who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are less likely to acquire infection and if infected are less likely to transmit the virus to others.
The Department said the AHPPC-endorsed Work Permissions and Restrictions Framework for Workers in Health Care Settings would support safe decision making when determining appropriate workplace restrictions for workers exposed to the virus.
“Previous requirements to furlough workers in health care settings following exposure to COVID-19 could result in significant impacts on health system capacity and place a significant strain on the delivery of health services,” the Department said.
“As Australia moves into Phase B and C of the National Plan to Transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response, the workforce impacts resulting from the previous guidance would be exacerbated,” it said.
“It is timely to update this guidance as increasing rates of workers in health care settings are now fully vaccinated.”
The Department said the Framework would support health care settings to undertake risk assessments and apply appropriate mitigation measures to optimise workforce capacity and thereby ensure the continued safe delivery of health care.
It said the Framework covered workers in public and private health settings, private provider facilities and education settings in which students undertook placement, registration and internships in clinical settings.
“The Framework acknowledges that decision making should be informed by the local epidemiological and public health situation, and that States and Territories may implement additional requirements above these minimum national recommendations,” the Department said.
The 12-page Framework can be accessed at this PS News link.
