Hi , 

Further to our recent advice following the WA State Government revision of various Public Health mandates including masks OWA has sought, and can now provide further guidance and clarification as follows:

Members, their staff and people aged over 12 who do not have a valid exemption continue to be required to wear a mask in health care settings. Clarification of the broader health care setting is as follows and includes Optometry as part of allied health service provision.

A health care setting includes any health facility where health care is delivered to patients face-to-face.

These include:

•  public and private hospitals
   
•  ambulance and patient transport services
   
•  primary health clinics (including general practitioner clinics, Aboriginal health services, private nurse offices and maternal, child, and dental health clinics)
   
• specialist outpatient services and day procedure centres
   
• allied health services including radiology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy services.

MASKS

Masks are not mandated for health care settings that do not have face-to-face interaction with patients (including telehealth services, pathology laboratories and corporate areas within health facilities). 

This follows on from our original advice whereby masks were strongly encouraged where physical distancing isn’t possible.

The guidance and information flow continues to be a challenging one, OWA will continue to seek clarification as the rules evolve. 

Thank you. 

Page reviewed 2nd May 2022 @ 
https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Coronavirus/Face-masks

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Optometry Western Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands where our optometrists live and work and pays respect to the past, present and emerging Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.