CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PRACTICES AND PROTOCOL
BELLARINE CHINESE MEDICINE seeks to provide a safe treatment environment by employing strategies to help limit the transmission of COVID-19. These strategies are in line with the changing landscape of the Department of Health Regulations and current Australian Government restrictions, as they are announced/updated. Our primary focus is the health, safety and wellbeing of both practitioners and patients and of course, our families and the broader community.
BELLARINE CHINESE MEDICINE is currently open for face-face appointments. We are following strict disease control guidelines over and above the Department of Health recommendations. We look forward to continuing to meet your allied health needs in this challenging time.
(updated 30 May 2022)
PROTOCOLS
1. If you have, or suspect you have any Covid-19 symptoms (fever, sore throat, cough, chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of smell), or have been exposed to someone who has those same symptoms or has tested positive, PLEASE call or notify us, and reschedule your appointment.
We strongly advise you to also contact the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398 or your GP for advice. Covid-19 tests can also be booked online through hotdoc.com.au.
2. Practitioners will wash/sanitize their hands thoroughly before & after each patient as per Department of Health guidelines. Upon arrival, all patients will be asked to do the same.
3. The waiting room will be reserved for one patient at a time. As per Australia’s Department of Health Guidelines, only 3 people can be in the waiting are at any one time to align with maximum capacity guidelines for the space of 12sqm. If there is a treatment taking place before your appointment, the practitioner will notify you. Please wait in your car until we advise you that the clinic has been appropriately cleaned.
4. After each appointment, all surfaces including massage table, desks, chairs, door handles, water filter, SQUARE machine, pens and any equipment used for treatment will be cleaned and disinfected. All linen will be replaced and set aside safely to be laundered as per Department of Health guidelines, or disposed of - as in the case of single-use PURIFAS face shields.
5. Please do not bring food into the clinic. A water filter and disposable paper cups will be available in the waiting room, or BYO water bottle.
6. Please change any baby nappies outside of the clinic space where possible, to reduce cross-contamination.
We greatly appreciate your patience with this process and your support during this very challenging time.
WHAT TO DO in case of the following SCENARIOS:
IF YOU HAVE INFLUENZA-LIKE SYMPTOMS:
Stay home and do not attend your appointment. Consult your GP. Await any influenza-like symptoms to completely resolve. You must be without fever for at least 72 hours (3 days) before leaving the home/attending the clinic.
IF YOU HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH AN UNCONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE:
COVID-19 can mimic other infectious diseases and respiratory illnesses, so it’s important to be mindful but not alarmed.
Step 1: Self-isolate, get tested and minimise transmission risk. Call your GP/ national COVID-19 helpline for direction: ph 1800 020 080. At this point, third-party social isolation is not required.
Step 2: Monitor any changes to your health status. If you have influenza, follow the protocol above. Monitor your own symptoms.
Step 3: If testing confirms COVID-19, determine your contact status. Not all types of personal contact bring equal risk of COVID-19 infection. Even if you have had contact with a confirmed case, there is no requirement to self-isolate if contact had not been close, ie. face-to-face for 15 minutes or within the same physical space for two or more hours. Public health authorities will typically be in contact to inform you of any need to self-isolate. However, you should retrace your steps, and inform any people ASAP that meet the criteria for ‘close contact’ that may have been exposed to you.
Step 4: Close contacts must self-isolate for a 14-day period from last contact with the confirmed case. Authorities must also be contacted for COVID-19 testing. If testing occurs, and you test negative within the self-isolation period, you may no longer be required to remain in isolation pending the advice of public health authorities. However, retesting may be required – please speak to the national COVID-19 hotline: 1800 020 080 and always follow any advice given.
IF YOU HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH A CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE WITHIN 14 DAYS OF THEM ACQUIRING THE INFECTION:
This scenario presents the highest level of risk, as a person with COVID-19 often becomes symptomatic within 14 days of infection. A symptomatic person is at their most infectious state and can spread the virus through droplets, touching surfaces or through person-to person contact. Please pay careful attention to the steps below, which can save lives and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Step 1: Determine if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case. ‘Close contact’ is when someone has been face-to-face for at least 15 minutes, or in the same closed space for at least 2 hours, with a person that is infectious.
Step 2: Make sure to retrace all movements and interactions to determine who may be a close contact. If you have not been in close contact, have no symptoms, and have only had casual contact, there is generally no need to self-isolate per step 3 below.
Step 3: Inform any close contacts you can inform. Informing allows a ‘close contact’ to reach out to their own ‘close contacts’ with whom they have engaged within the last 14 days, to inform them of potential risk.
Step 4: Close contacts must self-isolate and inquire about COVID-19 testing. Be mindful that breaking self-isolation requirements is a crime in most states and territories and could result in further regulatory actions. Self-isolation means staying at home for at least 14 days from the last point of contact with a COVID-19 confirmed case and not going into public places, including but not limited to workplaces, schools, shopping centres, child-care centres, universities. If you are required to self-isolate, ask someone else to collect food and necessities for you, leaving them at your front door. Do not allow entry to visitors who do not live in the residence with you. If you test negative within the self-isolation period, you may no longer be required to remain in isolation pending the advice of public health authorities. However, retesting may be required. It is advisable that this is confirmed with the hotline and always follow their advice.
Step 5: If you are connfirmed to have tested positive to COVID-19, do not act without medical or public health clearance. Public health authorities will be in contact with you daily. Do not leave home or return to daily activities until authorities advise. If you need to attend hospital – you must ring them before you arrive so they can prepare a space for you.
IF YOU WERE EXPOSED TO A CONFIRMED COVID-19 CASE 14 OR MORE DAYS AGO:
This scenario has a lower level of risk than the previous scenario.
Step 1: You do not need to self-isolate if interaction occurred with a COVID-19 confirmed contact 14 or more days ago and no symptoms have emerged. If symptoms do not develop within 14 days, and you remain well, it is likely COVID-19 infection has been mitigated and you can engage in daily activities without medical testing.
Step 2: Irrespective of this low risk, be cautious of remaining traces of infection and seek advice from your GP as to whether COVID-19 testing is necessary.
Online resources
The following websites will provide the most up-to-date information available to Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Federal Government COVID-19 updates/ The Department of Health
https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
World Health Organisation updates
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Victorian State Government updates
VIC - https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Coronavirus Hotline Numbers
National 24/7 Coronavirus (COVID-19 Hotline). Ph: 1800 020 080
Victoria (COVID-19 Hotline). Ph: 1800 675 398