COVID-19 Infection Control Guidelines

COVID-19 is the most significant event most of us would have seen in our lifetime. Let’s not to be paranoid but to be more cautious and use our commonsense, especially when it comes to government funding guidelines designed for business as usual and safety of care recipients.

CARE RECIPIENTS

1. must be alert to individuals who:

• • have returned from overseas in the last 14 days,
  • have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or
  • have a fever, or have any symptoms of respiratory illness (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion).

2. should keep a minimum of 1.5 metres between them and the carer where one-on-one support is not being administered.
3. should exercise good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene:

• • wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitiser, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet, and
  • cover a cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

CARERS

1. must not go to work and stay at home (self-isolate) if they:

• • have returned from overseas in the last 14 days,
  • have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19, or
  • have a fever, or you have any symptoms of respiratory illness (e.g. cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion).

2. keep a minimum of 1.5 metres between them and the client where one-on-one support is not being administered.
3. Carers should also practise good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene:

• • wash hands frequently with soap and water or alcohol based hand sanitiser, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet, and
  • cover a cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser.

4. Carers should use antibacterial wipes or spray (or hospital grade detergent) to wipe down all household surfaces, equipment or vehicles where carers have touched.
5. be CREATIVE.  ie, meal delivery?, more family participation?

SOCIAL DISTANCING

Social distancing is important because COVID-19 is most likely to spread from person-to-person through:

• direct close contact with a person while they are infectious or in the 24 hours before their symptoms appeared,
• close contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes, or
• touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face.

BACKUP PLAN

Having a plan B in this unprecedented event is important, carers might not be available in anytime. Feel free to discuss your challenge with us including the risk if you have no apparent backup plan.