13 August 2021
We are pleased to let you know that we will be introducing rapid COVID-19 testing for employees at Whiddon Largs from Monday, 16 August to further protect residents and employees during the evolving COVID-19 situation in the Hunter region. Please note, despite the introduction of Rapid Antigen Testing, visiting restrictions will remain in place as per NSW Health orders.
Rapid antigen tests are taken on-the-spot and deliver a positive or negative result in just ten minutes. They are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, and under supervision of a registered nurse, employees have been trained to administer the tests themselves and should a positive result be detected, the employee must then take a standard diagnostic test in line with Government advice.
Employees are encouraged to have the test when they come on shift. Research has shown that the frequency of the testing is the most important factor in controlling the spread of infection. Employees will be encouraged to test every day to begin with and then every other day following that, while community transmission remains high.
We are proud to bring this initiative to Whiddon as it adds a very important layer of increased protection for residents and employees against COVID-19, while community transmission rates are high. We have been offering this at Whiddon Easton Park and Whiddon Hornsby for several weeks now as a trial, and are pleased to see this added layer of protection now offered at Whiddon Largs.