5 January 2021
Further to our update to you last week, we are pleased to say that no residents at Whiddon Redhead are currently showing any symptoms of COVID-19.
While we have a small number of employees who have tested positive to COVID-19, our robust COVID-19 management plan ensures that we limit movement across our care homes, and that strict protocols are in place to avoid potential spread of the virus across our care homes. Our highest priority is to keep our residents and employees safe and well.
Our employees continue to wear full PPE as a precaution at this time. We also continue to undertake rapid antigen testing of employees, to complement our strict screening procedures.
We are pleased to say that we are in the position to welcome back visitors to Whiddon Redhead, however, we will be implementing additional safety measures and guidelines for this to occur. This includes limited visiting hours, between 9am and 12pm and 1pm and 4pm on weekdays, with 10 visitors per hour. All visits must be pre-booked and the following guidelines will be in place:
- Residents may have two visitors per day
- All visitors must wear PPE, including an N95 mask and a face shield, which will be provided to visitors
- Only visitors over 12 years old are permitted and all 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
- 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
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.
We thank you for your understanding and support. We genuinely understand that this has been a challenging time.