Important Staff Update: Positive COVID-19 cases identified at Calvary Mt. Carmel

Date:   25 May 2022

To:       All Staff – Calvary Mt Carmel

From:  Sandeep Kandel, General Manager Aged Care

I am writing to inform you that unfortunately two (2) residents have tested positive for COVID-19 at Calvary Mt. Carmel. The residents reside in Daffodil Wing and are currently isolating and receiving care in their rooms, and we have notified their families.

Calvary Mt. Carmel will be closed for the next five (5) days to enable the home to ensure all safety measures are in place for residents, visitors and staff.

We understand that this may be worrying for you and the residents in your care. We want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to continue to look after the health, wellbeing and safety of all our residents and staff.

What are we doing to keep resident’s safe?

The home’s updated COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan (OMP) has been enacted and we have taken immediate action to contain transmission and keep residents and staff safe. We have:

• Physically separated the affected persons, including any close contacts;
• Ensured all residents are being safely cared for in their rooms, including meals and activities;
• Notified and are working with the State and Commonwealth agencies;
• Continue our COVID-19 testing regime of residents and staff;
• Supplied full outbreak personal protective equipment (PPE - gloves, masks, face shields, gowns) to required areas.

In addition to these first actions, our care continuity plan ensures we have the clinical and non-clinical staff, as well as other support services necessary to meet the individual care needs of our residents during situations such as this.

Information for visitors during an outbreak

Calvary’s Position Statement on Visiting in Aged Care, now in effect, allows visits for residents in all circumstances, including when a home is experiencing an outbreak and is in lockdown. There are, however, specific requirements to help keep our residents, their visitors and our staff as safe as possible.

• Calvary Mt. Carmel will be closed to visitors until Monday 30 May 2022.
• One fully vaccinated visitor per resident, may visit to the home from 11.00am – 6.00pm daily, from 30 May 2022 (day 6 of outbreak).
• All visitors will be supplied with the appropriate PPE (including face masks and shields as appropriate) to wear whilst visiting. Staff will assist visitors as required, with donning (putting on) and doffing (removing) PPE correctly.
• Visitors will be required to have a rapid antigen test (RAT test) before entering the home.
• Visitation exceptions may be made for residents receiving end of life care, residents who may be experiencing distress, or where a special care and support role is provided.

We will continue to liaise closely with Public Health Unit officials, who will make the decision about whether and when it is safe to remove the current visitation restrictions.

We need you to continue to work

You are safe to continue to provide resident care because you are trained and prepared for situations such as this. Your training means you will know how to provide resident care safely by following our strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the correct use of PPE.

For staff that work across multiple sites we would like you to continue to work at Calvary. To support you to do this Calvary will commit to giving you equivalent shifts to ensure that your hours from both Calvary and the alternate employer are maintained at a minimum.

What do I need to remember?

Our first priority and focus is the safety, health and wellbeing of the people in our care, including you, our employees, at this time. You will be kept informed by your Manager as the situation develops.

• Notify your Manager immediately if you have been notified that you are a close contact of a positive case, are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or are in any way unwell.
• Wear PPE as advised. If you have any questions, please speak with your Manager.
• Follow the COVID-19 media protocol. If you are contacted by a journalist, do not answer questions. Simply record the journalist’s name, media agency and contact details and notify the Manager.
• If you are experiencing any form of distress or anxiety, please speak to your Manager. If you find you require additional support, please reach out to our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP).

Thank you for all that you are doing to ensure our residents continue to receive the safest possible care with empathy and compassion in this challenging time.