Coronavirus: Information for Mercy Health residents, families and visitors

Visitor restrictions Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia

All visitors must continue to take personal responsibility when visiting our aged care homes.

Visitors must:

• be able to show date-stamped evidence of a negative rapid antigen test (RAT) or PCR test done within 24 hours of your visit
• wear a mask if required and directed by staff.  The requirement to wear a surgical mask daily is now being assessed based on a risk assessment process.
• maintain physical distancing.

Please do not visit if you:

• have tested positive to COVID-19 in the past seven days
• live with someone who has tested positive to COVID-19 in the past seven days
• have COVID-19 symptoms

If things change

We may limit visiting at short notice if there is a COVID-19 case at our home. We will communicate with residents and their primary contacts as soon as possible if this occurs.

Thank you for helping us keep everyone safe.

Screening times WA

Visitors to all homes must be screened. This includes having your temperature taken and answering a number of questions. You must arrive during screening times.

In all our homes, during your visit:

• complete visitor screening before you enter the home
• wear a mask if required based on the risk assessment process
• wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand rub before and after you visit the home and a resident’s room
• keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres from your loved one and others in the home.

Help prevent the spread of infection

Everyone can help prevent the spread of infection by practising good hand hygiene and maintaining a physical distance from other people.

Simple steps for everyone to follow:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Use a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, or cough into your elbow or upper arm. Dispose of tissues in the bin.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Stay at home if you feel unwell.
• Continue healthy habits (drink water, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and get enough sleep).
• Get vaccinated against COVID-19 (including booster) and the flu.
• Avoid close contact with people outside your immediate family or household members (such as touching or shaking hands).

Mercy Health Mask requirement risk assessment process

From Monday, October 2nd, the requirement to wear a surgical mask daily can now be assessed based on a risk assessment process with the use of a 4-stage respiratory trigger chart.

Green: No masks are required for visitors, as there is no respiratory outbreak or exposure within the home. Visitors will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test daily prior to entering the home.

Light Amber: If the home has a respiratory exposure, all  visitors are required to wear a surgical mask. Visitors will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test daily prior to entering the home.

Dark Amber: Less than 5 cases of a respiratory infection contained in one wing or house. All visitors entering an affected wing or house are also required to wear an N95 mask supplied by the home. Visitors will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test daily prior to entering the home.

Red: More than five cases of a respiratory infection in the home in more than one wing or house. Visitors are required to wear an N95 mask supplied by the home. Visitors will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test daily prior to entering the home.

More information

For information about COVID-19, including symptoms, risks, travel and prevention advice, visit the Department of Health COVID-19 website in your state.

Consistent and reliable information is important in an emergency. Wherever possible, Mercy Health will refer to the relevant government authority instead of repeating the information on this page.

If you cannot find the information you are searching for on this page, or if you have other questions or feedback, there are a number of ways you can get in touch.

Contact us.