Aboriginal health workers and practitioners play an important role in preventing and managing the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
Implementing and following infection prevention and control methods such as pre-screening patients before patients attend appointments, referring symptomatic patients for testing, wearing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), practising hand hygiene and staying home if you are sick can all help to stop transmission of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Screening at NSW Healthcare facilities is regularly updated depending on the current situation in NSW. This document supports facilities to screen visitors and staff before they enter. If they don't meet the screening criteria, they can be refused entry and require follow up.
See the Clinical Excellent Comission's COVID-19 Infection Prevention and Control Manual for acute and non-acute healthcare settings for further information on infection prevention and control.
Healthcare workers will be one of the first groups in Australia to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. By having a COVID-19 vaccine you will be protecting your patients, your co-workers and your community.
Most Aboriginal people in NSW people receive primary health care through their GP and this may be how they choose to access the COVID-19 vaccine. Aboriginal people can be vaccinated in phase 1b and phase 2a of the vaccination roll out. It is important for GPs to stay up to date about accessing the COVID-19 vaccination for your patients.
NSW Health has a public health response in place to prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in NSW.
Many Aboriginal communities in NSW have developed Community Action Plans (CAPs) which set out actions and responsibilities for organisations and agencies to prevent and manage COVID-19 outbreaks in communities.
The Australian Government also has a COVID – 19 Management Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Populations which includes an overview of key principles and issues for the prevention and management of COVID-19 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, as well as information to support the development and implementation of local operational plans like the ones mentioned above.
Surveillance, infection control, laboratory testing and contact management for COVID-19 in Australia are guided by the National Guidelines for Public Health - Coronavirus Disease 2019. In NSW this document is supported by an appendix which is specific to the management of COVID-19 in NSW.
