The Department of Health has provided advice that:

• the 2024 influenza season has begun, with activity expected to continue increasing rapidly over the next 6 to 8 weeks.

• COVID-19 activity is currently at moderate levels and expected to further increase.

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity continues to be high.

Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

It is anticipated that a large number of people will be infected with COVID-19, influenza and/or RSV this winter, as all three viruses will be circulating at the same time.

Bannister In Home Care (BIHC) is following the advice from the Department of Health and have the following measures in place:

Support workers will

• continue to wear a mask to your service

• test for COVID-19 weekly and send results to BIHC as a preventative measure

• ask if you or anyone in your household has respiratory symptoms before they enter your home.

• not attend your service if they have respiratory symptoms including cough, scratchy or sore throat, runny nose or sneezing

• not attend a service if they have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive to COVID-19

• not attend a service for at least 7 days after testing positive to COVID-19 and to complete the BIHC checklist with HR prior to resuming services

We ask all clients to please

• let us know if you or anyone in your home is feeling unwell before a support worker attends your service.

This will help prevent the support worker from becoming unwell and then passing it on to other clients and support workers.

We also encourage you to wear a mask when your support worker attends your service and if you are entering a place with lots of people e.g. shopping centres and supermarkets.

Bannister In Home Care will

• discuss with clients who have symptoms or are confirmed to have influenza, COVID-19 or RSV, the need for essential services

• talk with the support worker attending any essential services about precautions to take including additional PPE, perform daily RATs as a preventative measure and limit the number of clients they see to minimise the spread of infection

• postpone non-essential services to a time when you are feeling better at a time to suit you

How to prepare for the winter season?

Bannister In Home Care encourages all clients and support workers to receive all eligible flu and covid vaccinations and to speak with your GP to determine the suitability of antiviral medications.

Information from the Department of Health

Influenza vaccination

• ATAGI recommends that all adults should receive an influenza vaccine.

• People aged 65 and over are eligible for a free vaccine under the National Immunisation Program (NIP).

Influenza antiviral medicine (Oseltamivir (Tamiflu®))

• To be most effective, antivirals should be provided to patients within 48 hours of when symptoms start. Speak with your GP about having a plan in place for antiviral medicines. 

COVID-19 vaccination

Clients are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with recommended vaccinations:

• People aged between 65 and 74 years are recommended to have a COVID-19 vaccination every 12 months and are eligible for a dose every 6 months based on an individual risk-benefit assessment.

• People aged 75 years and over are recommended a COVID-19 vaccination every 6 months.

Staff are strongly encouraged to stay up to date with all recommended vaccines including COVID-19.

COVID-19 antiviral medicine

Speak to your GP about the appropriateness of antiviral medication in the event you test positive to COVID-19.

The advice to home care service providers dated 20 May 2024 states:

The NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report provides an indication of transmission of key respiratory viruses (COVID-19, influenza and RSV) in the community. COVID-19 and influenza vaccines offer the best protection against severe illness from these viruses.

Acute respiratory infection (ARI) safety measures for home care service providers

In-home care service providers should maintain vigilance to prevent the introduction of acute respiratory infections (ARI), including COVID-19, influenza, and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) into a person's home.

Providers should undertake their own risk assessments to determine safe delivery of services. These should take into consideration the prevalence of COVID-19, influenza and RSV in the community, vaccination status of both staff and clients, and types of services being provided.

Staff should ask clients about symptoms on arrival. If staff become aware of a client with symptoms, arrangements should be made for COVID-19 testing, or referral to a general practitioner as required.

Support Staff

Staff should not provide a home care service if they have:

• Tested positive for COVID-19. Staff should not provide a home care service for at least 7 days after their positive test. Providers should follow the relevant ARI Guidance to determine when it is safe for employees to return to work.

• Been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19. See Staff exposed to COVID-19 for further information.

• Acute respiratory or influenza-like symptoms.

 

Testing for COVID-19

It is encouraged that providers promote testing as required but regular surveillance testing is not required when there are low levels of COVID-19 in the community. Please note that staff with respiratory symptoms should not attend work even with a negative RAT result.

Mask wearing

Masks should be worn by staff when there are moderate or high levels of respiratory viruses circulating in the community as indicated by the NSW Respiratory Surveillance Report.

Please remember that masks can be removed for staff:

• if wearing a mask creates a risk to health and safety

• where clear enunciation or visibility of the mouth is essential

• if they are working alone in an indoor area.

Staff removing a mask for one of the above reasons can decrease the risk of transmission by physically distancing from others, if appropriate.

Vaccination for staff and clients

For the best protection against severe COVID-19 and influenza, it is strongly encouraged that staff and clients are up to date with all recommended vaccinations, including COVID-19 and influenza. The COVID-19 vaccine can be given on the same day as influenza vaccine. For information on recommended COVID-19 vaccine doses see the latest advice and ATAGI's advice on influenza vaccines.

An RSV vaccine is available to adults 60 years and above. People must pay for this vaccine. Clients who are 60 years and above can talk to their GP about the benefits, eligibility and cost of the RSV vaccine. Please see the ATAGI advice for the RSV vaccine for more information.