Welcome to your COVID-19 update. In this edition, learn about the new international passenger requirements in response to the Omicron variant, explore the Multicultural Community Wellbeing Campaign and take part in free webinars and learning opportunities..
All international passengers who have recently landed in NSW – and their household contacts – should read NSW Health information and understand the rules for international travel to and from NSW.
From 12am on 28 November, all fully vaccinated international passengers arriving in NSW who have been in an overseas country, but not a country of concern, must:
All passengers arriving in NSW who have been in countries of concern in the 14-day period before their arrival must enter hotel quarantine for 14 days, irrespective of their vaccination status.
Anyone who has already arrived in NSW and has been in these countries within the past 14 days must immediately get a COVID-19 PCR (nose and throat swab) test and self-isolate for 14 days. They must contact NSW Health on 1800 943 553.
All unvaccinated passengers from any overseas country will continue to enter hotel quarantine and must follow the rules for people who are not fully vaccinated arriving in NSW from overseas.
More information is available: International travel to and from NSW
The Multicultural Community Wellbeing Campaign engages with young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) to creatively design and promote key messages to help increase meaningful conversations between young people and their family, friends and community networks around mental health strategies and supports. The Multicultural Community Wellbeing Campaign is a project by NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service (MHCS) in partnership with the NSW Primary Health Networks, Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) and Settlement Services International Inc. (SSI).
Some talented youth have put together video testimonials showcasing their mental health and wellbeing journey during the pandemic.
Youth wellbeing
Through online co-design workshops, facilitated by MHCS with SSI Youth Collective, young people collaborated closely with each other to coproduce videos with meaningful personal messages for their families, friends and communities.
Their stories aim to encourage other young people from CALD communities to have meaningful conversations with family, friends and community networks around mental health support services.
As Bronco completed 20 laps of his local pool, it might seem hard to believe he was in hospital six days previously with COVID-19.
Branomir Pavlovic, known as Bronco, puts his remarkable recovery down to the fact he'd received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination and the anti-viral medication he received while at St George Hospital.
"I wasn't interested in getting the vaccine originally, but knew I needed it to keep working so I went to get the shot. Now I'm very glad I did," Bronco said.
He was due for this second dose the day after he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Bronco developed chills, a sore throat and a mild cough but was grateful COVID-19 didn't hit him harder, especially since he is currently undergoing treatment for stage 4 lung cancer.
As a chemotherapy patient, Bronco was instructed to present to hospital if he developed a high temperature, so he assumed it was a side effect of his cancer treatment when his temperature climbed above 38 degrees. He had no idea he was infected with COVID-19.
"I was a bit worried but I wasn't overly panicked. I'm a person who handles adversity pretty well and take things for what they are, not what they could be," Bronco said.
Thanks to the care he received while at St George Hospital, Bronco made a quick recovery. He was discharged after nine nights in hospital and his condition was monitored at home by the St George Hospital COVID-19 Telehealth Assessment Clinic (CTAC) team until he was cleared of COVID-19.
"I was given a monitor to take home that sits on your finger to check your oxygen levels and heart rate. The CTAC team called me every day to ask how I was feeling, record my stats and check if I was developing any new symptoms. I was lucky as my condition was fairly stable."
"It was great to be able to complete my isolation at home. Knowing the CTAC team were monitoring me made me feel reassured that I was in good hands."
The day after he was cleared of COVID-19 and de-isolated, he woke at dawn and swam a kilometre.
"I usually swim 1.5kms four to five times a week and wasn't sure how I'd go the first day back, but I was fine."
Bronco has no idea where he contracted the virus, and noted that all of the people close to him who had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine tested negative.
"It's clear to me that the vaccine works and there is definitely protection from being double vaccinated. Now I encourage everyone to get the two shots."
Infectious Diseases Specialist, Dr Niladri Ghosh, was first in line to receive his booster shot of Pfizer at the Mass Vaccination Centre in Wollongong earlier this month.
Working at Wollongong Hospital, Dr Ghosh has personally witnessed the effects of COVID-19 on patients. So, when booster doses were announced, he jumped at the opportunity to further increase his protection against the virus.
Dr Ghosh has been involved with the COVID-19 response since the very start of the pandemic and has been an ongoing advocate for the vaccine, encouraging people to come forward for vaccination.
"I chose to have the booster dose to enhance my immune response, as the evidence suggests that immunity to COVID-19 wanes over time.
"As a frontline healthcare worker looking after patients with COVID-19, the booster dose not only protects me, it also protects my patients, my family, and the wider community," he said.
Booster doses of Pfizer are available to people aged 18 years and older, six months after their second dose from NSW Health vaccination clinics, GPs, Pharmacies and Aboriginal Medical Services. Book your booster
As workplace end-of-year festivities near, it's important to make sure your celebrations are COVID-safe.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said teams should look to stagger work Christmas and New Year celebrations, opt for smaller events and remember to continue COVID-19 hygiene practices.
"It's important to be inclusive with events and consider staff who might not feel comfortable visiting venues with high numbers of patrons. As always, outdoor gatherings are preferable, and masks are required in most indoor premises except when eating or drinking," Dr Chant said.
"Teams should also consider the potential for COVID-19 infection to impact on our ability to provide care and services, particularly where critical staff are socialising at the same time."
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, however mild, it's important to come forward for testing, and avoid festivities until a negative result is received.
We're on the hunt for our 2022 TikTok stars!
Our social channels have gone gang-busters and we need to give the people what they want.
Got a secret talent for dancing on camera or want to give 'fun science' a shot?
Hit us up at social@health.nsw.gov.au
Hosted by the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance, this final webinar for 2021 will focus on COVID-19 in children and adolescents with an update on:
Webinar: COVID-19 in children and adolescents - vaccines, transmission at school and disease outcomes
Wednesday, 8 December 2021
12.00 – 1.30pm AEDT
Register: Webinar Registration (Zoom)
Today, 3 December, we celebrate International Day of People with Disability.
This year's theme is "Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world."
International Day of People with Disability is an opportunity to consider how to make a positive contribution to the lives of Australians with disability. Around one in six people in Australia – about 4.4 million people – live with disability.
The United Nations observed day promotes public awareness and understanding as well as equitable opportunities for people with disability.
NSW Health is committed to providing high-quality health services that meet everyone's needs appropriately, and without bias.
If you are interested in how NSW Health supports people with disability through our polices and services, please contact the Disability and Youth Paediatric Health Team. To find out more on how we support our workforce to be more accessible and inclusive, please contact your local HR or Disability Team.
Read more on NSW Health's disability inclusion action planning, service provision and policies or visit My Health Learning to find the below courses:
Public Service Commission – DEN Connect – Friday 3 December, 11:30am-12:30pm
Register now
Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post-COVID world
Speakers: Kathrina Lo, Commissioner, NSW Public Service Commission, and Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary of the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
The new HealthStats NSW is here, giving you population health data at your fingertips.
HealthStats NSW is your go-to public website bringing together data from many sources to produce statistical information about the health of the NSW population.
Users can view and download data and select indicators to produce tailored reports that provide insights into a wide range of health determinants and outcomes.
The website has undergone major enhancements to add additional functionality. It has a modern look and feel, is easier to navigate, has better visualisations and improved reports.
The refreshed website provides you with access to:
If you can't find the data you need on HealthStatsNSW, contact Analytics Assist.
For more information, visit the Healthstats NSW website
The Critical Intelligence Unit COVID-19 Monitor provides a snapshot of topical information and graphs – generally drawn from international and national sources. This week the Monitor provides updated data on COVID-19 cases, variants, vaccines, hospitalisations and deaths.
In the past week, the Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Daily Digest has included a range of new articles.
The Daily Digest is available via the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) website. To receive the Digest each morning, sign-up by emailing Critical Intelligence Unit.
The Critical Intelligence Unit continues to provide:
We hope you stay well and continue to follow the rules and restrictions that apply to where you live and work.
The COVID-19 Update is sent directly to all employees across the health system to keep you informed of important clinical, workforce and government updates. Email story ideas, suggestions or feedback.