On 27 January 2021, the Department of Health updated its Fact Sheet: First 24 Hours – Managing COVID-19 in a Residential Aged Care Facility.
Providers should refer to the full Fact Sheet for details, but if you’re pressed for time or need a quick overview for reference or staff communication, we have set out the key points below in an easy to use checklist.
The new Fact Sheet contains all the same steps as the previous version. Some minor changes have been made to the instructions within some of the steps, including:
First 30 minutes |
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Step |
Details |
Person/Role Responsible |
Comments |
Done |
1 |
Isolate and inform the COVID-19 positive case(s) Use PPE for any interactions with positive cases. |
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1A |
If the COVID-19 positive person is a staff member they must immediately leave the facility and isolate at home as directed by the public health unit (PHU). |
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1B |
If the COVID-19 positive case is a resident they should be
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1C |
Outside affected residents’ rooms place the following:
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1D |
Inform the resident and their family of their diagnosis with sensitivity and support as needed |
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2 |
Contact your local Public Health Unit (PHU) |
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3 |
Contact the Commonwealth Department of Health |
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4 |
Lockdown the residential aged care facility |
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Minutes 30-60 |
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Step |
Details |
Person Responsible |
Comments |
Done |
5 |
Activate your outbreak management plan Guidance on appropriate actions based on your COVID-19 situation is outlined in COVID-19 escalation tiers and aged care provider responses |
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6 |
Convene your outbreak management team |
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7 |
Review screening protocols This includes placing appropriate and clear signage across the facility. You can find advice on entry screening for residential aged care facilities here. |
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8 |
Release an initial communication This should include residents, staff, families, and key stakeholders. Inform staff that they should not work at any other facility during the outbreak. Providers with multiple services should consider communications for other sites. |
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Hours 2-3 |
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Step |
Details |
Person Responsible |
Comments |
Done |
9 |
Contact tracing Identify anyone who spent 15 minutes within 1.5 m of the COVID-19 positive person. |
Led by PHU |
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9B |
Increase monitoring of all residents for any symptoms of COVID-19. Take clinical observations two to three times a day |
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10 |
Identify key documents for PHU and Commonwealth Consider:
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11 |
PPE stocktake If you require additional PPE and cannot source it through your usual means, you can submit a request to the National Medical Stockpile at: https://consultations.health.gov.au/health-grants-and-network/18d6cd12. |
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12 |
Communication Expect and prepare to manage a very high volume of calls. Establish a single point of contact for media queries. |
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Hours 4-6 |
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Step |
Details |
Person Responsible |
Comments |
Done |
13 |
First meeting of the Outbreak Management Team |
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14 |
Bolster your staff and plan your roster. Allocate separate staff for COVID-19 positive, COVID-19 suspected and non-COVID-19 residents. Plan what you would do if key staff or the CEO became unwell. |
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15 |
Conduct testing In collaboration with the PHU, urgently arrange testing for all residents and staff for COVID-19 to understand the status of the outbreak. |
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16 |
Clinical management of COVID-positive cases |
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Hours 6-12 |
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Step |
Details |
Person Responsible |
Comments |
Done |
17 |
Cohorting and relocation Determine what cohorting/zoning arrangements to implement at the facility to manage infection control. |
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18 |
Move to a command-based governance structure
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19 |
Rapid PPE supply |
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20 |
Infection control Your nominated infection control lead must ensure:
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Hours 12-24 |
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Step |
Details |
Person Responsible |
Comments |
Done |
21 |
Clinical First Responder assessment Where required, the Commonwealth will arrange a Clinical First Responder to help review the facility’s preparedness. |
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22 |
Review advance care directives |
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23 |
Establish strong induction and control processes Determine who the on-the-ground infection control lead will be for each shift. This person must ensure:
Consider having workforce competency reviews for all staff. |
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24 |
Maintaining social contact – residents and their families/ representatives You will need extra staff to assist residents with communications/use of technology. |
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25 |
Follow up communications Establish a clear and consistent pattern of daily follow-up outbound communications. OPAN can assist with residents and families’ communications if needed. |
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26 |
Continue primary health care Ensure there is strong ongoing governance of “routine” care. Understand residents will be anxious and need reassurance. |
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27 |
Support your staff – they are your most import asset. |
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28 |
Continue to monitor state / territory guidelines |
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Here’s a few practical ways to use the checklist to your advantage:
“Key COVID-19 Regulatory Updates” tracking page – a free resource page from CompliSpace that tracks regulatory change due to COVID-19. Last updated 14 December. Click here to see the latest regulatory updates.
The Weekly Wrap – all the latest aged care news summarised in an easy-to-read wrap with links to the full stories.