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The isolation period for fully vaccinated New South Wales health workers has been cut in half as the state’s healthcare system deals with about 2000 COVID-related absences.
NSW Health last night said close household contacts “essential to service delivery” would be able to leave isolation and return to work after seven days instead of 14, a move expected to significantly increase available staffing numbers.
They would need a negative PCR test on day six and an approved risk assessment plan requiring daily rapid antigen testing, COVID-safe protocols in the workplace and PPE including wearing masks at all times while at work.
Other changes aimed at boosting staff numbers include letting workers exposed by a friend or family member in a social setting go back to work after a day two test and having workplace-specific requirements for anyone exposed at work.
Deputy Secretary Nigel Lyons said the changes were safe for patients and workers.
“Healthcare workers are the most vital workers needed in a pandemic, and the safety of staff working at NSW Health is of the utmost importance,” he said, in a statement.
“These changes are possible because healthcare workers are required to be vaccinated, many have recently received booster doses, they are trained in infection control practices, they wear PPE in the workplace, and they have access to rapid testing.”
NSW Health said it had 140,000 staff, of which 2000 were furloughed “due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in NSW”.
The case surge, including 6324 confirmed on Monday, has been pushing short-staffed workplaces to the limit and — combined with demand for travel tests — overwhelming the state’s testing system.
Epidemiologist Professor Tony Blakely on Monday told Today there was a need to move away from PCR testing to rapid antigen testing.
“PCR should be used for symptomatic people, or for hospitals, that type of setting,” he said.
“We need a whole transition through to more rapid antigen tests and less reliance on PCR.
SydPath yesterday advised almost 1000 more people they were COVID-19 negative when in fact their results had not yet been determined.
Professor Blakely said the testing error was likely due to both the pressure brought by large crowds, and due to more staff being on leave over the holidays.
“A check that would normally happen twice or something like that, hasn’t happened,” he said.
Source: 9News
