COVID-19 Levels 1 and 2 require a risk management approach and sound clinical judgement in decision making.
Recommendations to manage visiting to minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission to residents and staff.
Updated advice for rest homes operating at COVID-19 Levels 3 and 4.
Guidance on visits at Level 1 from the NZACA. Visits should be managed to minimise the risks of infection, but visitation must be allowed at Level 1 unless exceptional risk factors are identified.
Aged care nurse leaders provide support to industry peers at Covid-19 Level 2.
Further to infection control advice given last week to members about keeping staff working in specific areas (units) rather than across whole facilities, it is recommended that management also develop a register of staff’s living accommodation (whom and how many people they live or flat with) and what work they undertake.
Following outbreaks of COVID-19 in several NZ aged care facilities over recent weeks it’s timely to review and consider staff accessibility to different areas throughout the complex.
Every new resident prior to admission into aged residential care, whether from hospital or the community, must be tested for COVID19.