The Department of Health and Human Services has launched a ‘big program’ to drive down COVID-19 infections in Victoria’s healthcare workers as new research confirmed most affected cases acquired the virus at work.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Health, Jenny Mikakos said every single health service in Victoria would be checked to make sure it was COVIDSafe.
“PPE spotters will be introduced, potential aerosol hot spots will be studied and fit testing will be trialled for staff at highest risk – providing more protection to our dedicated healthcare workers who continue to keep us safe,” Mr Andrews and Ms Mikakos said.
“Part of a strategy to further drive down infections among our healthcare heroes, these actions have been recommended on the advice of the newly established Healthcare Worker Infection Prevention and Wellbeing Taskforce,” they said.
The Ministers said a detailed analysis of healthcare infections released on Tuesday (25 August) showed healthcare workers in aged care settings accounted for around two in five infections, and hospital workers about one-third.
“Approximately 22 per cent of healthcare worker infections in the first wave were likely acquired at work, increasing in the second wave to at least 69 per cent,” they said.
“The Royal Melbourne Hospital has recently reduced its cohorting of positive cases in the same clinical space with good outcomes – challenging much of the previous international understanding around treating coronavirus.”
They said that while it was pleasing that the rate of healthcare worker infection was trending down, any healthcare worker contracting the virus at work was a concern.
“That’s why the Taskforce was established and will continue to undertake further work, making sure we delve further into what might be driving these numbers and what more needs to be done.”
Mr Andrews and Ms Mikakos said WorkCover claims were also being fast-tracked to ensure no healthcare worker who contracted the virus at work was left on their own, with all claims being assessed within an average of 48 hours.
