COVID-19 Victoria Communique - 27 May 2021
The following applies to restrictions for the State of Victoria from 11.59pm tonight until 11.59pm Thursday, 3 June 2021.
Definition of Authorised Workers
Authorised workers pertains to work considered essential and includes:
- the continued operation of Allied Health students on placements, when undertaking critical training and examinations.
- Allied Health working in private or public community services, whether clinic or home-based, providing essential clinical care where telehealth services are not clinically appropriate. e.g. orthotists and prosthetists providing services such as fitting a brace post-surgery.
- immunisation and vaccination providers including pharmacy immunisers and Aboriginal Healthcare Workers.
- professional or high-performance sportsperson, workers that support the safe running of that person’s professional sport, and public broadcast personnel necessary for broadcasting the professional sport.
For this purpose, essential clinical care is defined as:
- to prevent a significant change/deterioration in functional independence which would result in an escalation of care needs (e.g. an increase in frequency of treatment needed, an increased need for prescription medication due to a significant increase in pain, requirement for specialist input or review, an increase in care needs, and/or a substantial increase to anticipated recovery time associated with a delay in receiving services).
- to provide assessment and diagnostic services to clients / patients whose care have been delayed as a result of previous restrictions, with any further delay likely to result in deterioration in functional independence or adverse health outcomes (including access to diagnostic imaging services or assessment for prescription of assistive equipment and technology).
- to provide services that are essential as part of a broader plan of care with a medical practitioner (e.g. fitting a brace post-surgery).
- to provide services that are part of a conservative management plan to avoid or delay elective surgery (as agreed with treating team).
- to provide services immediately following elective surgery that prevent secondary complications or aid functional recovery (as agreed with treating team).
PLEASE NOTE: ROUTINE IN-PERSON CARE IS NOT PERMITTED
Definition of Authorised Health Services
Pharmacy and urgent services are permitted to open under circuit breaker restrictions.
Allied Health services provided by allied health professionals working as authorised workers in hospitals or in residential care facilities providing critical clinical care or as directed by the hospital.
Allied Health workers professionals working in private or public community services, whether clinic-based or home-based, providing essential clinical care where telehealth services are not clinically appropriate.
Allied Health services provided by allied health professionals working in private practice providing care through telehealth and other virtual care options.
Allied Health professionals providing mental health services in hospital.
Allied Health professionals providing mental health services in community settings by telehealth, or by face-to-face (but only for urgent care where telehealth is not clinically appropriate).
Students, medical/nursing/midwifery/allied health on placement providing authorised care in hospitals or in residential care facilities, or through telehealth.
Clinical Placements
Essential adult education services including health care worker and aged and disability care clinical placements is permitted under the Circuit breaker lockdown.
Further updates to student clinical placement guidance are pending and will be released in the next 24 hours.
Private health care practice (for those delivering in-person health care services)
Telehealth is preferred
Routine care via face-to-face is not permitted
Providing essential clinical care where telehealth services are not clinically appropriate (see above definition on essential care)
Masks required
Fitness/Gyms (including those delivering clinical services)
Closed
Home Visits
For providing essential clinical care where telehealth services are not clinically appropriate (see above definition on essential care)
Masks required
No restrictions on 5km bubble for essential workers. We would advise you carry evidence of you accreditation as a support evidence.
Aged Care
Critical care services are permitted
Non-essential contractors are restricted from entry
Professional Sport
Professional and elite training and competition may occur without spectators, with physical distancing observed to the extent possible. Example: Olympic trials can occur, AFL teams.
Outdoor exercise
Distance allowed to travel – 5km
Limited to 1 person per household
Masks
Mandatory for indoors and outdoors – except own home
Private gatherings
Not permitted