Case and Outbreak Management

• Coordinates COVID-19 case and outbreak management

• May notify us when multiple confirmed cases are identified as having spent time in our facility

• Advises our organisation on control measures (for example, use of facemasks, cleaning and disinfection) to implement to protect others and stop the spread of illness in the setting

• May support / coordinate contact tracing (identifying persons who were in close contact with the case during their infectious period)

• Asks our organisation about people in our setting that are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19

• Advises on broader public health control measures, and monitors their effectiveness

• Provides information about case/outbreak management to cases, close contacts, people involved in the response and the public

• Liaises with relevant agencies about targeted testing and vaccination services

• Determines when the outbreak is over

• Advises safe work practices, including the potential need to close the facility from a workplace safety perspective

• Needs to be informed if a staff member is confirmed as having COVID-19 and may have been infected while at work

• Implements public health case and outbreak control measures onsite, as outlined in this plan or requested by Public Health

• Reports additional cases in the setting to Public Health

• Advises any close and social contacts of the case(s) that we identify, to quarantine and check for instructions until Public Health provides additional information

• Liaises with Public Health to coordinate communication about the case/cases

What they need to know:

• Level of risk, number of cases linked to the setting

• The importance of hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and physical distancing and staying away if unwell

• Outbreak control measures being implemented, for example

  • working from home

  • use of facemasks

  • site visit embargo

• Arrangements for accessing leave for quarantine and isolation

• Expectations about getting tested and not attending work if staff have any COVID-19 symptoms

• Any potential impact on the delivery of services

How we will communicate:

• All staff email

• Google Meet

• Google Chat

• Cloud PBX

• Level of risk, number of cases linked to the setting

• Any potential impact on their organisation, for example dates and times of attendance, details of individuals who may have had contact

• Outbreak control measures being implemented, for example changed arrangements for delivery of services, use of facemasks

• Name and contact details of the main contact person for Public Health, including out-of-hours

• Outbreak management risks specific to the setting

• Names and contact details of potential contacts of the confirmed case

• Cases in staff where incident notification is required under Work Health and Safety Regulations 2012 – Reg 699