COVID-19: What Anglicare is doing to protect residents, clients, staff and volunteers

Date Posted: 05 Mar, 2020

Learn about Anglicare’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Anglicare is aware of the confirmed case of COVID-19 in a care worker at another aged care facility in Sydney.

“Anglicare has implemented our COVID-19 Prevention Plan across all our sites, and we are constantly monitoring updates from the Department of Health and updating our procedures as new information emerges,” says Anglicare CEO Grant Millard.

“Our employees are trained and equipped to implement our prevention plan and procedures. We are also communicating with residents, their families and contractors to inform them of the processes we have in place.”

To protect Anglicare residents, clients, employees, volunteers and any other person who attends an Anglicare site, the existing screening procedures have been tightened. Anyone who visits an Anglicare site will be required to present to reception, where they will be asked if they have been exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and be requested to disclose if they have recently travelled overseas, including to or through mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy, or if they have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Since the outbreak started Anglicare has asked staff and volunteers to wait 14 days after travelling to high-risk countries before coming to work or visiting any Anglicare sites. This also applied if they had been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Anglicare continues to request that anyone who has travelled to or through mainland China, Iran, South Korea or Italy, or been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or lives with someone who meets these criteria to postpone their visit for 14 days or until receiving medical clearance.

“Employees, volunteers and all visitors are required to follow our health and hygiene procedures, which include sanitation, hygiene control, hand washing and the use of personal protective equipment where appropriate,” says Mr Millard.

“Anglicare is continuing to provide high-quality care and support during this difficult time and the safety and wellbeing of our residents, customers and employees is our priority.”

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