Year: 2022

4 January 2022

Further to our update that was sent on Sunday, we have since been informed that two residents and five employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Families of the residents who have tested positive have been contacted.

We are pleased to advise that the residents and employees who have tested positive are doing well.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

In addition, we have taken a second round of PCR swabs today and will share any further updates once we receive the results.

We thank you for your patience and support during this time.

4 January 2022

Following our message to you on 30 December, we wanted to provide a further update to Whiddon Moree families.

Since our last update, we have conducted PCR COVID testing of residents, which pleasingly, have all returned negative results.

We do have a small number of residents who are currently experiencing respiratory symptoms and we are awaiting COVID test results for these residents, who are currently in isolation.

We have also had two employees at Whiddon Moree test positive to COVID-19. Any contacts of these employees have been contacted directly.

We are continuing rapid antigen testing of employees at this time, as a precaution, and we continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit. Our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures has been implemented.

Please note that as a precaution, visitors are still not permitted at Whiddon Moree for now. Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds will be permitted and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

4 January 2022

We are pleased to advise you that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Belmont from tomorrow, as the risk of potential exposure was identified as low. We do thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well.

We will continue to ask all employees and visitors to undertake a rapid antigen tests and to wear an N95 mask and face shield, as a precaution at this time.

While we are able to welcome back visitors, we ask that they follow our guidelines for visiting and remain vigilant. With increasing numbers of COVID-19 in our communities, it is important that we all take steps to help keep everyone safe.

This is a timely reminder to all of us that COVID-19 is still very much with us. We encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 4 months ago.

We thank you for your cooperation and support.

4 January 2022

Following our message to you about an employee testing positive to COVID-19 at Whiddon Belmont, we are pleased to advise you that we are now in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Belmont from tomorrow, as the risk of potential exposure was identified as low. We do thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well.

While we are able to welcome back visitors, we do ask that you follow our guidelines and remain vigilant. With increasing numbers of COVID-19 in our communities, it is important that we all take steps to help keep everyone safe.

Please be reminded of the following guidelines when visiting:

• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over only, per day
• Visitors must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and wherever possible, visits should occur in an outdoor area
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask and face shield when visiting
• Visitors will be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed into a home at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits
• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements. Close contacts should not enter high risk settings for at least 14 days since their exposure to a COVID-positive person
• do not visit if you have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless you are fully vaccinated and have received a negative PCR test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your cooperation and support.

4 January 2022

We have been informed that an employee at Whiddon Laurieton has tested positive to COVID-19 through rapid antigen testing. Employees are wearing appropriate PPE, and we have also closed our care home at Whiddon Laurieton to visitors for now. Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds will be permitted and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure. Families will need to speak to the Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our COVID-19 response plan is robust and ensures we prioritise the safety of residents and employees.

Anyone considered a contact of the employee, will be contacted directly. There has been no recommendation at this stage by the PHU for employees not directly impacted to self-isolate, and as such, employees can continue to come to work and attend their normal shifts.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We ask that if you have any concerns to please speak to your manager in the first instance. Please also remember our confidential EAP service contactable 24/7 on 1800 818 728.

This is a timely reminder to all of us that COVID-19 is still very much with us. We encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 4 months ago.

4 January 2022

We have been informed that an employee at Whiddon Laurieton has tested positive to COVID-19 through rapid antigen testing. As a precaution, employees are wearing appropriate PPE and we are restricting visitation to Whiddon Laurieton for now, while we assess the potential risk of exposure.

Only visits for essential caring or on compassionate grounds will be permitted and residents are strongly encouraged to not leave the care home for now, again as a precautionary measure.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care homes.

Those considered contacts of the employee who tested positive, will be contacted directly. We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We are also committed to keeping you up-to-date of the situation and will provide a further update once we know more.

We thank you for your understanding and support.

3 January 2022

We have been informed that a resident at Whiddon Hornsby has tested positive to COVID-19. Employees must wear full PPE, and we have also closed our care home at Whiddon Hornsby to visitors for now. We will allow visitors to visit a resident who is at the end of life or for essential care reasons. Families will need to speak to the Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid spread of the virus across our care homes.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We are also committed to keeping you up-to-date of the situation and will provide a further update once we know more about the situation.

3 January 2022

We have been informed that an employee at Whiddon Hornsby has tested positive to COVID-19. Employees must wear full PPE, and we have also closed our care home at Whiddon Hornsby to visitors for now. We will allow visitors to visit a resident who is at the end of life or for essential care reasons. Families will need to speak to the Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our COVID-19 response plan is robust and ensures we prioritise the safety of residents and employees.

There has been no recommendation at this stage by the PHU for employees not directly impacted to self-isolate, and as such, employees can continue to come to work and attend their normal shifts.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We ask that if you have any concerns to please speak to your manager in the first instance. Please also remember our confidential EAP service contactable 24/7 on 1800 818 728.

This is a timely reminder to all of us that COVID-19 is still very much with us. We encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 5 months ago.

We are also committed to keeping you up-to-date of the situation and will provide a further update once we know more about the situation.

2 January 2022

Further to our update that we shared last week, we have received all resident’s COVID-19 swab results. From this, we have been informed that one resident’s COVID-19 swab has come back positive.

The resident who did test positive was in isolation after attending an external Christmas Day event, so we do believe the risk of transmission is low.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We will send another update once we know more about the situation.

2 January 2022

Further to our update that we shared last week, we have received all resident’s COVID-19 swab results. From this, we have been informed that one resident’s COVID-19 swab has come back positive.

The resident who did test positive was in isolation after attending an external Christmas Day event, so we do believe the risk of transmission is low.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We will send another update once we know more about the situation.