FRIDAY, 17 JULY 2020

 

  

Stay COVIDSafe by following ESSA’s three-stage Recovery Plan for COVID-19

Our goals in providing you with these weekly updates are twofold to ensure:

  • you, your family and your clients stay COVID safe and
  • you, your employer or your business understand ESSA’s recommendations and various government laws in order to operate legally so you are not fined nor ordered to close.

Whilst our thoughts are with members in Melbourne and the Shire of Mitchell at the moment, three members of the Planet Fitness Gym at Casula near the Crossroads Hotel in Sydney have tested positive triggering an isolation warning for staff and patrons. We believe that this is the first time a gym has triggered such a warning anywhere in Australia.

The Sydney outbreak and continuing escalation of cases in Melbourne have put many border restrictions on hold and created new hotspots for travellers from Sydney to various locations.

ESSA recommends NSW members, especially those in Sydney prepare for a second lockdown and ensure they have considered the following:

  • COVID Infection control training
  • COVID Safe Plans (All the state requirements in ESSA’s Fact Sheet here).
  • Screening processes for clients
  • Upskilling reception staff on COVID risks
  • Sourcing PPE
  • Environmental cleaning and disinfection principles for COVID-19.

 

To find the links for all these resources, read ESSA’s Recovery Plan which includes all Australian requirements and recommendations. This document can now be accessed in our COVID-19 home page in the Members’ Lounge.  

The latest on state and territory changes and border crossings is here.

 

State News/Requirements/Recommendations

VICTORIA

NEW RESTRICTIONS RE TRAVEL FOR EXERCISE

This morning, the Victorian Government  announced further restrictions on travel for exercise as follows:

“Unreasonable travel would include travel within the restricted area to exercise or outdoor recreation where that type of exercise can be done closer to home.”

Anyone who strays too far from home would face a hefty fine of $1652 for breaching "unreasonable travel" restrictions.

This information has not yet been published on any Victorian Government website at the time of writing this Communique. The best we can do to confirm this at this stage is a news article here. We expect official confirmation of this advice here later today.

 

WHAT EXERCISE SERVICES CAN AN AES DELIVER DURING A LOCKDOWN

Indoor services: During the current COVID-19 lock down in the listed 32 councils (metro Melbourne and the Shire of Mitchell), non-essential indoor health services and non-essential workplaces (gyms, fitness centres, health studios and swimming pools) need to close.

An AES can provide exercise services in the following ways:

  • Essential NDIS services as either a personal trainer OR as an allied health assistant (supervised). Essential services provided under the NDIS are those deemed by the NDIS participant to be an essential service.
  • As an allied health assistant under supervision of an allied health professional e.g. such as assisting the delivery of an essential clinical service in an AEP or multidisciplinary practice.

Under lockdown conditions, the AES cannot continue to deliver exercise services indoors to healthy populations or provide personal training.

Outdoor services:

  • The current restrictions in Victoria for exercise services are limited to 1 instructor and 2 participants in an outdoor setting such as a park.

Online services:

You can still operate online.

 

WHAT EXERCISE SERVICES CAN AN AEP DELIVER DURING A LOCKDOWN

Accredited Exercise Physiologists working in metro Melbourne and the Shire of Mitchell (the listed 32 councils) need to revert to using ESSA’s Recovery Plan for Stage 1 listed here for the next six weeks, at least until 19 August, 2020. This means only delivering essential clinical care for a specific clinical condition or defined clinical pathway in line with current best evidence.

For in-person AEP services, up to 10 practitioners and clients in total in a clinic at any one time (e.g. could be 2 x AEPs delivering group classes for 3 clients in each class and 2 x AEPs providing individual consults) providing all social distancing and density requirements can be met. 

If a practicum student is involved, then the student is counted in the total of 10 people. 

 

For in-person group AEP services, 3 clients in a group and 1 AEP (4 people in total) for essential allied health clinical care for in-person group AEP classes based on clinical judgement of AEP.

Up to two groups in separate spaces at one time if density and social distancing requirements can be met.

If a practicum student is involved with a group class, then only two clients are allowed (4 people in total).

 

What is essential allied health clinical care?

Clinical care is defined by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care as the care clients should be offered by health professionals and health services for a specific clinical condition or defined clinical pathway in line with current best evidence.

Victorians living in the impacted areas have only 4 reasons to leave home:

  • Shopping for food and supplies
  • Care and caregiving
  • Exercise
  • Study and work – if you can’t do it from home.

 

Stay at Home restrictions will be in place until at least 19 August, 2020 for members living in the listed councils.

Victoria Police can issue on the spot fines of up to $1,652 for individuals and up to $9,913 for businesses. More information here for Victorian members on state specific requirements.

There have been changes to the requirements around masks in ESSA’s overview of Australian requirements and recommendations (more information below). This document can now be accessed here in our COVID-19 home page in the Members Lounge.

 

Update on Masks

Practitioners

The latest advice directly from the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP’s in a Media Release this morning (17 July, 2020) is:

  • All aged care workers across Victoria are now required to wear face masks following recommendations from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee. This advice applies to both residential care and home support care workers.
  • This advice also includes the recommendation of mandatory use of masks for disability workers in the hot spot areas.

 

General Public

The Australian Government Department of Health has updated its Fact Sheet on ‘When should masks be worn in the community, in Australia?’ as of 9 July, 2020.

The advice about wearing masks in the community has been the same since the pandemic began: it is not generally recommended. However, if you are in a region where community transmission is occurring, you should take extra precautions, in some circumstances when physical distancing is difficult to maintain, e.g. on public transport.

COVID-19 Infographic – Do I need to wear a mask? (Released 17 July, 2020)

This explains when you need to wear a mask and how to use a mask properly. This infographic is also available in many other languages here.

Video: Coronavirus (COVID-19) wearing personal protective equipment for allied health professionals

Take a look at Alison McMillan, Australia’s Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, demonstrate how to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for allied health professionals here. Other resources on PPE are available here.

This video is part of a larger suite of COVID-19 resources for health professionals, including aged care providers, pathology providers and health care managers available from the Australian Government Department of Health.


FAQs

Q. Does my insurance cover me if a patient/client claims they have contracted COVID-19 from me or whilst at my practice/business?

If insured with Guild Insurance, your professional indemnity and public liability insurance cover will continue as per the usual terms and conditions of the policy if there is an allegation against you, as long as you comply with public health orders and other government directives regarding COVID-19. If a practitioner does not abide by public health orders and other government directives, then they will not be covered by Guild professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

This means that if there is a specific requirement for a “COVIDSafe Plan” by a state or territory government, then practitioners need to abide by that. ESSA has prepared a Fact Sheet on COVIDSafe Plans here.

COVID-19 Disability Advisory Service

A new Australian Department of Health clinical advice service provides advice for health professionals caring for people with disability with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms. Some people with disability may experience distress, concerns, or require reasonable adjustments in order to receive safe testing and care.

The Advisory Service is staffed by health professionals with experience working with people with disability.

Clinicians can call the service on 1800 131 330 between 7am-11pm (AEST) 7 days a week. The helpline will be available for a six week trial period until mid-August.

 

Resources

COVID-19 Information in your language 

The Department of Home Affairs has COVID-19 information about health, education, business and financial support, community safety and settlement services and visas and the border in 63 languages here.  Please share this resource with clients whose first language may not be English.

COVID-19 – Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line

This Fact Sheet (released 16 July, 2020) explains how the Older Persons COVID-19 Support Line provides information and support for older Australians. This Fact Sheet is also available in many other languages here.

COVID-19 and children

This Fact Sheet (released 16 July, 2020) contains information on COVID-19 and children.

 

Department of Health (DoH) COVID-19 Primary Care and Allied Health Webinar

Key points from the last webinar on 9 July, 2020:

  • Exercise physiologists missed in Aboriginal Communities.
  • Limited access to technology devices for Aboriginal people recovering at home after a hospital stay.

ESSA is anticipating the next webinar will be on Thursday 23 July.

 

Australian Bureau of Statistics Catalogue 6202.0 - Labour Force, Australia, Jun 2020 report: Employment, hours worked and unemployment rose in June

Seasonally adjusted employment increased by 210,800 people between May and June, and the unemployment rate rose from 7.1 per cent to 7.4 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The easing of COVID-19 restrictions in June saw an extra 280,000 people in the labour force, with more people in employment, and more actively looking and available for work. The 210,800 increase in employment was underpinned by a large increase in part-time employment (249,000 people) and a further decrease in full-time employment (38,100 people).

Overall, the percentage of people employed in Australia increased 1.0 percentage point to 59.2 per cent, up from a low of 58.2 per cent in May. More information here.