IMPORTANT: Outbreak Update for All Staff - Calvary Haydon Retirement Community

Date:      12 October 2021

To:         CRC Haydon - All Staff 

From:    Barb Reid, Regional CEO - ACT | Karen Campbell, General Manager Haydon

The management of the COVID-19 outbreak at Calvary Haydon Retirement Community continues with the current number of active positive cases totaling ten (10) residents and four (4) staff.

We are pleased that no new cases have been identified in the past nine (9) days and thank staff for working so diligently to ensure the continued safety of the residents in our care. All COVID-positive residents are residing in the Mary Potter household and COVID-positive staff are in self-isolation at home.

We continue to check in on the health and wellbeing of the COVID-positive members of staff who are in self-isolation at home and provide any assistance that is necessary.

PLEASE NOTE: Calvary Haydon has published Version 5 of its Outbreak PPE Donning and Doffing Procedures document for all Haydon staff to be familiar with.

Release of Residents - St Teresa joins St Patrick, St Margaret and St Francis

We are pleased to inform you that following ACT Health’s lifting of the close contact status of the St Teresa household, St Teresa residents are from today permitted more freedom of movement, including walks, communal dining and window visits in line with residents of St Patrick, St Margaret and St Francis households.

Unfortunately, due to either the active case or close contact status of residents of the Mary Potter household, these residents will need to remain being cared for in their rooms until individually cleared by ACT Health. Once cleared, individual residents of the Mary Potter household will be permitted more freedom of movement within the confines of the household consistent with the other households of the facility.

The release from rooms for St Patrick, St Margaret, St Francis and St Teresa residents, including for walks and communal dining, amongst other activities, must be limited to within their own household of residence.

Key Points

• Residents will remain cohorted within their households. No movement between households is permitted.
• No mixing of residents from different households is permitted under any circumstances, including in outdoor areas.
• Where possible, staff will continue to be cohorted to specific households.
• Staff will continue to use N95 face masks and face shields.
• Residents will be able to return to normal movement within their household only. The dining room will be set for two residents per table, and tables positioned to maintain minimum physical distance of 1.5 metres.
• Residents will be offered a surgical mask for use when outside their rooms, however it is not mandatory that they wear one.
• COVID-19 safe practices will be maintained within the household, including physical distancing, environmental cleaning, hand hygiene, reducing/restricting number of individuals in rooms, and isolation and use of full PPE with any resident who has onset of respiratory symptoms.
• St Patrick residents will be allowed outside into enclosed courtyard area (COVID-19 safe practices applies).
• Calvary Haydon has installed a temporary wall on the ground floor separating the back of the facility (incl. back corridor and ground floor households) from the front of the ground floor (incl. lift, reception etc.) to allow Level 1 residents to be brought down for ‘window visits’ (this will occur in a coordinated way to reduce traffic through the facility, maintains cohorting of households and enables social distancing). 
• All residents will be monitored daily for onset of respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose, sore throat, loss of sense or smell or taste) including temperature checks.

Important Reminder - Your Second COVID-19 Vaccination

As you will know, COVID-19 vaccination is so important to protecting you, your family and the residents in your care from infection. At least one dose of vaccine has been a mandatory condition of employment since September.

If you have not booked in for your second dose of vaccination, please do so immediately. Please remember that evidence of your second vaccination will also be required.

Employee assistance is available

We understand this is an emotionally challenging time for our staff. Staff may be feeling a range of emotions due to what has happened and our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider LIFEWORKS is here to help. LIFEWORKS is available to provide free confidential counselling support to staff and their family.

Please contact LIFEWORKS on 1300 361 008 as you require it.

Help your colleagues to manage the outbreak

ACT Health has advised that Calvary Haydon staff with at least one (1) vaccine are permitted to work at the facility and fully vaccinated staff (who have received both doses) are permitted to work in the Mary Potter wing, the location of all COVID-positive residents. Thank you for calling the Rosters Contact person below to arrange your shift today.

Contact Number

Please contact the Rosters Contact at Calvary Haydon on:

• Phone: 0467 721 676

Am I safe to return to work?

You are safe to continue to provide resident care because your training means you know how to provide resident care safely by following our strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the correct use of PPE.

Full outbreak PPE (gloves, masks, face shields, gowns) has been provided and will continue to be supplied as needed to all employees. Staff will be provided with refresher training on donning and doffing PPE when they attend the site for work.

Calvary Haydon Retirement Community has published Version 5 of its Outbreak PPE Donning and Doffing Procedures document for all Haydon staff to be familiar with. The correct use of PPE greatly reduces the risk COVID-19 transmission and keeps you, our staff, and our residents safe.

Staff can stay up to date by visiting www.calvarystaffupdates.org.au

Thank you for all that you are doing, particularly at this time of immediate need.