Author: despinao

6 January 2022

We wanted to give you another update regarding the COVID-19 situation at our nearby care home, Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young.

Since out last update, we have had a small number of employees and two residents have tested positive to COVID-19. In response to this, our employees at Robert Young are wearing full PPE and our care home at Whiddon Narrabri Robert Young has remained closed to visitors for now. We have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid spread of the virus across our care homes.

We received the second round of PCR swabs from Narrabri Robert Young and are pleased to share that all residents have come back negative, except for two residents mentioned above. Their families have been notified. We will be doing a third round of PCR swabs this Sunday.

Whiddon Jessie Hunt continues to remain open to visitors and we thank you all for following our processes and protocols during this time.

As a reminder, we ask that you wear an N95 mask when you visit, which will be provided to you. We will also be reducing our visiting hours from 10am – 2pm daily for now. You may also be asked to conduct a rapid antigen testing onsite, to complement our strict screening processes and robust COVID-19 protocols.  With the rising cases of COVID-19 cases in our communities, it is important that we stay vigilant and take all steps possible to help keep everyone safe.

We also want to reassure you that our employees are not working across our Narrabri care homes (Robert Young and Jessie Hunt).

  Please be reminded of the following guidelines when visiting:

• Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over only, per day
• Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to visit
• Visitors aged 12 years and over must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Visits must not take place in communal areas and if available, visits should occur in outdoor areas
• All visitors must wear a N95 mask while visiting
• Visitors may be asked to complete a rapid antigen test as a condition of entry
• Unvaccinated visitors are only permitted to visit a resident who is at the end of life. Please speak to your loved one’s Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visi

Please ensure that you:

• pre-book your visits. Please note that the number of visitors allowed into a home at any one time may be restricted to enable management of capacity limits.
• refrain from visiting if you have COVID-19 symptoms
• refrain from visiting you are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19, unless they have completed their isolation and testing requirements
• refrain from visiting if you are a fully vaccinated person who has been overseas in the last 7 day. Additionally, they must show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken on or after day 7 following their arrival
• refrain from visiting if you are not vaccinated and have been overseas in the last 14 days.
• refrain from visiting if you are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• practice good hand hygiene and socially distance
• check in to the Service NSW app AND Whiddon’s check-in system when you visit

We thank you for your cooperation and support.

6 January 2022

Further to our update that was sent on earlier this week, we have since received the second round of PCR swabs. We are pleased to share that all have come back negative, except for the two residents who were originally positive, as mentioned in our update on Tuesday.

We have scheduled for the third round of PCR swabs to be taken this Sunday, 9th January.

As a reminder, please continue to be diligent with your PPE and our COVID-19 protocols during this time.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We will share any further updates once we receive the results.

6 January 2022

Further to our update that was sent on earlier this week, we have since received the second round of PCR swabs. We are pleased to share that all have come back negative, except for the two residents who were originally positive, as mentioned in our update on Tuesday.

We have scheduled for the third round of PCR swabs to be taken this Sunday, 9th January.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We will share any further updates once we receive the results.

We thank you all for your support of our residents and employees during this time.

4 January 2022

Further to our update that was sent on Sunday, we have since been informed that two residents and five employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Employees who may have been close contacts have been informed.

We are pleased to advise that the residents and employees who have tested positive are doing well.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

In addition, we have taken a second round of PCR swabs today and will share any further updates once we receive the results.

We thank you for your patience and support during this time.

4 January 2022

Further to our update that was sent on Sunday, we have since been informed that two residents and five employees have tested positive for COVID-19. Families of the residents who have tested positive have been contacted.

We are pleased to advise that the residents and employees who have tested positive are doing well.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

In addition, we have taken a second round of PCR swabs today and will share any further updates once we receive the results.

We thank you for your patience and support during this time.

3 January 2022

We have been informed that a resident at Whiddon Hornsby has tested positive to COVID-19. Employees must wear full PPE, and we have also closed our care home at Whiddon Hornsby to visitors for now. We will allow visitors to visit a resident who is at the end of life or for essential care reasons. Families will need to speak to the Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid spread of the virus across our care homes.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We are also committed to keeping you up-to-date of the situation and will provide a further update once we know more about the situation.

3 January 2022

We have been informed that an employee at Whiddon Hornsby has tested positive to COVID-19. Employees must wear full PPE, and we have also closed our care home at Whiddon Hornsby to visitors for now. We will allow visitors to visit a resident who is at the end of life or for essential care reasons. Families will need to speak to the Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our COVID-19 response plan is robust and ensures we prioritise the safety of residents and employees.

There has been no recommendation at this stage by the PHU for employees not directly impacted to self-isolate, and as such, employees can continue to come to work and attend their normal shifts.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We ask that if you have any concerns to please speak to your manager in the first instance. Please also remember our confidential EAP service contactable 24/7 on 1800 818 728.

This is a timely reminder to all of us that COVID-19 is still very much with us. We encourage you to have your Booster shot and send evidence of your vaccination to payroll@whiddon.com.au at your earliest convenience. Eligibility for booster shots are for those that have had their second dose at least 5 months ago.

We are also committed to keeping you up-to-date of the situation and will provide a further update once we know more about the situation.

2 January 2022

Further to our update that we shared last week, we have received all resident’s COVID-19 swab results. From this, we have been informed that one resident’s COVID-19 swab has come back positive.

The resident who did test positive was in isolation after attending an external Christmas Day event, so we do believe the risk of transmission is low.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We will send another update once we know more about the situation.

2 January 2022

Further to our update that we shared last week, we have received all resident’s COVID-19 swab results. From this, we have been informed that one resident’s COVID-19 swab has come back positive.

The resident who did test positive was in isolation after attending an external Christmas Day event, so we do believe the risk of transmission is low.

We continue to work closely with the local Public Health Unit and continue to follow their advice while also implementing our COVID-19 response plan and Outbreak Management Plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented.

We will send another update once we know more about the situation.

2 January 2022

We have been informed that a resident at Whiddon Temora – Greenstone Building has tested positive to COVID-19. Employees must wear full PPE, and we have also closed our care home at Whiddon Temora – Greenstone Building to visitors for now. We will allow visitors to visit a resident who is at the end of life or for essential care reasons. Families will need to speak to the Care Manager directly to gain the necessary approval to visit.

Please note, this does not impact Whiddon Temora – Narraburra for now.

We can confirm, the resident who has tested positive has been in isolation and fully vaccinated with their booster shot, so we believe the risk of transmission is low. We will also be monitoring residents and employees for any respiratory symptoms.

We are working closely with the local Public Health Unit and following their advice, and have activated our COVID-19 response plan to ensure all necessary precautionary measures are implemented. Our robust COVID-19 management plan means that we have strict protocols in place to avoid spread of the virus across our care homes.

We understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, but we want you to know that it is our highest priority to keep everyone in our family safe and well, and we are doing everything we can to achieve this.

We are also committed to keeping you up-to-date of the situation and will provide a further update once we know more about the situation.