Latest COVID-19 Update from EMPHN

Latest COVID-19 Update from EMPHN

03 April, 2020

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Friday 3 April, 7.30am

Key messages

Healthcare system

  • A deal has been struck to ensure the state’s major private hospital operators can continue to care for Victorians during the coronavirus pandemic. 
  • The deal will see Victoria’s public and private hospitals work together to relieve pressure on public hospitals and ensure the entire health system is operating at full capacity. 

Flu vaccinations

  • All Victorians are encouraged to get their Flu Vaccination, now available from Pharmacies and GPs. The vaccination cannot protect you from COVID-19 but will ensure your immunity isn’t compromised further by contracting Influenza.
  • From 1 April, Victorian pharmacists can administer approved vaccinations outside of their normal location – through the mobile and outreach services of a hospital, pharmacy or pharmacy depot, increasing access to immunisations for all Victorians.
  • It is also easier for younger Victorians to get these immunisations from their local pharmacy. Appropriately trained pharmacists can now administer the flu shot to children 10 years of age and older.
  • Pharmacists will also be able to administer the measles-mumps-rubella, meningococcal ACWY and whooping cough-containing vaccines to people 15 years of age and older – protecting young people from deadly diseases that, combined with the threat of coronavirus, could overwhelm the state’s hospitals.

Hospital and aged-care restrictions

Emergency powers under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008 have been enacted to limit visits to patients in hospitals to partners, parents or guardians, or care and support people. And the following people are not allowed to visit a hospital:

  • recently returned travellers
  • a person who has a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • a person who has been in contact with a person who has a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19) or or a person with a high-temperature or symptoms of acute respiratory illness.
  • Visits to residents of aged care facilities are now restricted to two people per day for a short duration. Exceptions to this rule will be made for people receiving palliative care.
  • Children under the age of 16 will only be permitted to visit aged care facilities in exceptional circumstances.
  • These directions will be enforced by the Commonwealth Government.

Supporting healthcare workers

  • It’s everyone’s responsibility to support essential healthcare workers – such as doctors and nurses – to stay at work during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
  • Healthcare workers may need extra help to ensure their children have care so they can work during this period.
  • Where possible, partners of essential healthcare workers – who are not healthcare workers themselves – should support them to continue working by taking care of children.
  • Older people – such as grandparents – and other at-risk groups should not be engaged as carers to reduce their risk of infection.

Health workforce response – expressions of interest

  • Clinical and non-clinical healthcare workers are being asked to express their interest in working within the Victorian health system as part of the response to coronavirus (COVID-19).
  • Visit https://healthworkforceresponse.dhhs.vic.gov.au/ for more information.

New orders for pharmacists and prescription medications

  • From 1 April, Victorian pharmacists can administer approved vaccinations outside of their normal location – through the mobile and outreach services of a hospital, pharmacy or pharmacy depot, increasing access to immunisations for all Victorians. .
  • It is also easier for younger Victorians to get these immunisations from their local pharmacy. Appropriately trained pharmacists can now administer the flu shot to children 10 years of age and older.
  • During coronavirus (COVID-19), pharmacists can supply prescription medications without a prescription for one month in emergency circumstances except for Schedule 8 medicines.
  • Doctors prescribing Schedule 8 medicines for non-drug dependent patients will not be required to apply for a Schedule 8 treatment permit for the next six months, but instead check SafeScript.
  • Practitioners will need to apply for Schedule 8 treatment permits for drug dependent patients, including opioid replacement therapy.
  • During the pandemic health practitioners should take all reasonable steps to access SafeScript, as it is a very effective in providing up-to-date information about a patient’s prescribing and dispensing history.
  • Two new public health emergency orders have come into effect and can be found here.

Read the full DHHS update here.