The Queensland Government has announced the following Local Government Areas (LGAs) join Brisbane City and Moreton Bay as declared Restricted Areas for the purposes of updated Residential Aged Care Direction (No.9):
- Gold Coast City
- Logan City
- Townsville City
- Palm Island Aboriginal Shire.
For residential aged care this means general visitors are not permitted, residents may only leave in certain circumstances, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in line with the Moderate Risk guidance.
The Redland LGA has also moved up to ‘moderate risk’ for PPE use. Further information on PPE use can be found in this letter from Qld Health.
The updated direction also includes the following provisions:
- allow fully vaccinated students to continue clinical placements at facilities in restricted areas and to enter facilities in non-restricted areas after being in a restricted area
- require students in any clinical placement to be fully vaccinated by November 11, 2021
- include secondary contacts and persons awaiting the results of day 16/17 testing following hotel quarantine with close contacts of a diagnosed person, as people who are not permitted to enter a vulnerable facility.
Aged care providers can find more information about the updated direction and full advice on current restrictions for aged care on the Queensland Government website.
 that join Brisbane City and Moreton Bay as declared Restricted Areas for the purposes of updated Residential Aged Care Direction (No.9).){kind=link}