7 March 2022
IOT COVID-19 subcommittee update
UPDATE ON CI COVID CASE AND RESPONSE
The IOT COVID-19 subcommittee and the IOT Health Service are working together in response to the detection of the positive COVID case in the Christmas Island community on Sunday (6 March).
This is a situation of significant risk – the tracing and testing process continues and we expect there will be further positive cases to follow in coming days, given the nature of the public exposure site and numbers of close contacts.
The subcommittee thanks the person who has tested positive for their compliance with all relevant requirements and cooperation with the contact tracing process. For privacy reasons, no further details are being disclosed.
As reported yesterday, the CI Pool Hall is a high-risk exposure site and anyone who was at the pool hall between 9pm Saturday, 5 March and 1am, Sunday 6 March needs to quarantine immediately and make contact with the CI hospital by phone.
It has been reported that masks were not being worn appropriately in the pool hall by many patrons which is disappointing and has increased the level of risk.
The Health Service has already assessed 90 contacts from the pool hall, with 58 people deemed as close contacts who must undertake a seven-day quarantine period, supported by testing. A further 26 people are monitoring for symptoms and six are still to be assessed.
Thank you to everyone who made contact with the Health Services in relation to attending the Pool Hall exposure site. People have been engaged and cooperative, which is supporting our response and management of the transmission risks.
Anyone who was at the pool hall in this time period who has not yet been assessed by health staff needs to quarantine immediately and make contact with the CI hospital by phone.
We urge everyone to comply and cooperate with restrictions that are in place for everyone’s protection, including mandatory mask wearing and contact registers, along with our tracing and testing regime.
Testing for inter-island travel tomorrow
People undertaking inter-island travel from CI to Cocos on tomorrow’s VARA flight will now need to undertake pre and post-arrival testing using RATs. Information on testing requirements for inter-island travel going forward will be provided later this week, once we have established the extent of community transmission.
Takeaway only from restaurants
The community and visitors are advised that restaurants and eateries are closed except for takeaways, to minimise transmission risk while the situation is further assessed.
IOTHS moving to telehealth
Managing the COVID response is the key focus of your health service at this time.
IOTHS on CI is converting to a telehealth model until further notice. If you have an appointment in coming days, you will be notified of arrangements for your appointment by the health service.
We are operating at a high tempo and are also very focused on minimising risk of transmission within the health service. We ask people on island to limit unnecessary attendance at the health service for general health matters. Of course, people need to seek emergency or urgent care as required but if your issue is not urgent, or doesn’t require attendance, minimise unnecessary attendance.
This will help us to minimise risk of transmission becoming established at IOTHS. And importantly, it will also support your health workers who are continuing their efforts around the clock to manage the COVID situation and continue to provide routine health services.
If you have any symptoms associated with COVID, no matter how mild, self-isolate straight away, and contact IOTHS immediately to arrange for a test.
If you are in isolation and feeling unwell, please contact IOTHS and we will arrange to have a phone consultation with you. Do not go to the hospital.
The IOT COVID subcommittee thanks all community members for their cooperation at this time - we urge you all to continue to remember and practise those basic COVID safe behaviours which are key to limiting the spread of COVID and protecting yourself and others.
Important Contact numbers
Christmas Island
- Christmas island Health Services 9164-8333
- Christmas Island Community Policing Team 9164-8444
- Social Worker Phone 9164 8333 ext 128 or 0447 975 436
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- West Island Clinic 9162-6655
- Home Island Clinic 9162-7609
VHF – Channel 24
- Cocos Community Policing Team 9162-6600
