Visitation restrictions lifted for residential and health care facilities.

The Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order (No 4) 2020 under the Public Health Act 2010 has granted the lifting of visitation restrictions at Residential aged care facilities in New South Wales.

The restrictions are based upon three tiers. The first tier is where minimal restrictions will be in place on the basis of community transmission cases. The second tier is tighter restrictions being placed on visitation of residents in hotspot areas, followed by the third tier of COVID-19 being present within the community.

The lifting of restrictions applies residential aged care residents, alongside additional health care providers such as residential physical, mental disability care, community based residential health facilities, long stay hospital wards and rehabilitation hospitals and other similar health based accommodation centres within Australia.

The objectives of the code is to minimise the risk of exposure or transmission of COVID-19, and to ensure visitors are granted the opportunity to receive visitation and support throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The removal of restrictions will see a rise of visitors to the facilities, and are still advised to follow the safety protocols, such as maintaining social distancing and wearing the appropriate face coverings throughout their visit to the facilities, minimising the time spent outside the resident’s room, supervising children, and recording every visitors personal information through paper and digital records.

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