11 February 2022

Dear General Practitioners,

COVID-19 Update Calvary Cooinda

I am writing to inform you that unfortunately a staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 at Calvary Cooinda. The home has been placed in lockdown effective immediately.

We acknowledge that as a provider of primary medical care, your ability to consult via telehealth and physically access a site, as required, under outbreak conditions, is critical to the continuity of resident medical care.

Accordingly, our Outbreak Management Plan (OMP) has provisions to ensure the ongoing delivery of primary care in a scenario such as this.

What are we doing to keep residents 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.

What does this mean for GPs and visitors?

• Whilst visitation to Calvary Cooinda will be suspended for the next three (3) days, GPs will be permitted entry to the home as usual over this time.
• The wearing of full PPE – gloves, masks, face shields and gowns – will be required. GPs will be provided with the necessary PPE and education/support if required upon arrival.
• For more information regarding visitor access under outbreak conditions please refer to Calvary’s Position Statement on Visiting in Aged Care.

We thank you for working with us to ensure residents continue to receive the best medical care in this challenging environment. You will be kept informed as the situation develops. If you have any questions about your patient or accessing the site safely, please contact the home manager.

Sincerely,