As of 18 October 2021

Visitors

From 11 October 2021 residents are permitted to have two visitors per day provided:

• they are aged 12 years and over and
• have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit

There is an exception for up to two unvaccinated people to visit a resident for an end of life visit. They must always wear a surgical mask and the visit must be solely inside the resident's room. Facilities should consider Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) if readily available for visitors attending an end of life visit.

People who are providing a service to the resident including a health service or professional or other service are not included as part of the visitor limitations.

All visitors must wear a surgical mask while visiting indoors. For reasons when masks can be removed please see Additional Advice.

Apart from end of life visits, visits may be permitted in either the resident's room or an outside area but not in any inside communal areas.

Visitors must not enter an RACF at all if they:

• have been to any close or casual locations in NSW OR Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Tasmania OR New Zealand in the last 14 days;
• have COVID-19 symptoms
• are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their isolation period.
• live in a household with a person who is currently isolating.
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result.

Please read Exceptional circumstances for visiting a RACF.

Residents

• Residents are permitted to leave the facility and attend family gatherings or for other reasons but must abide by the current Public Health (COVID-19 General) Order 2021 (the Order).
• There are directions in the Order relating to vaccination requirements. All people aged 16 years and over must be fully vaccinated to visit:
• Hospitality venues such as a café or restaurant
• cinemas
• group classes and activities at recreation facilities
• retail outlets such as shopping centres (not including critical services such as a supermarket or pharmacy)

Facilities must ensure that residents are provided with appropriate PPE and infection control advice if they leave the facility. If a person cannot wear a face mask because of a disability, physical or mental health illness or condition, they must carry either;

• a medical certificate or letter signed by a registered health practitioner (such as a doctor) or a registered NDIS provider or
• a statutory declaration.

Please read Additional information for visits and outings at a residential aged care facility (RACF).

Staff

All facilities in NSW must ensure that all staff wear a surgical mask. For reasons when masks can be removed please see Additional Advice.

Staff must not enter the facility at all if they:

• are a close or casual contact of COVID-19, prior to completing their isolation and testing requirements. (Staff who are casual contacts are no longer excluded from entry for 14 days from their date of exposure, however should be risk assessed by the facility before returning to work.)
• have not received a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by 9am 25 October 2021
• are unable to provide evidence of having received at least their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as per the Public Health (COVID-19 Aged Care Facilities) Order 2021. On very rare occasions, there may be a medical contraindication to COVID-19 vaccination. A COVID-19 medical contraindication certificate is required in this circumstance.
• have been to any close or casual locations in NSW OR Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Tasmania OR New Zealand in the last 14 days;
• have COVID-19 symptoms - fever (37. 5°C or higher) or other symptoms of COVID-19
• live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result (except for surveillance purposes)

Please refer to the NSW Government website for further information about the current rules and restrictions in NSW and permits for workers.

For advice on essential staff who are necessary for operational purposes please and call the local public health unit on 1300 066 055 for a risk assessment and further advice.