Update #97
8 March 2022
Good afternoon family members and friends,
With the relaxation of restrictions in the community, Maroba has been impacted once more by covid 19 with exposures in staff, residents, visitors and family contacts. Whilst we are not in outbreak mode, we are carefully monitoring the situation. Residents who are impacted are being monitored for symptoms as is normal procedure.
To minimise any risk, we are asking residents to not mix with others in different suburbs. Social activities will continue in small groups from the same suburb.
This week we were planning on including a lunch outing on bus trips at an appropriate covid safe venue. The buses will still go out in the community, however we will arrange fish and chips and or other lunch option weather permitting in a park.
At this stage there is no change to visiting arrangements. As advised previously, we ask that you provide evidence of a negative RAT test on arrival. Can we also ask even if you have a negative RAT test but still don’t feel 100% to please delay your visit?
We received a great question recently from a family member and we thought to share this question and response with the Maroba Community.
The family member received an alert from Service NSW to say that they had checked into Maroba around the same time as a covid-19 case and wondered how this could happen if a negative RAT test is required prior to any visit.
Our response.
‘Yes everyone must do a RAT prior to visiting Maroba, however those tests will only pick up on a moderate to high viral load thus a negative test may turn positive a couple of days later or even on the same day, when the viral load has increased. We are acutely aware that no one measure gives us the protection we all desire which is why multiple strategies are employed together.
Once symptoms appear it is assumed that the person has been infectious during the 48 hrs prior and if symptoms never appear and a person tests positive test through surveillance testing then they are assumed to have been infectious for the same 48 hr period before testing positive.
RAT testing has been incredibly beneficial for Maroba staff, volunteers, contractors and visitors as we have picked up a number of covid positive people before they enter the facility.
Once there is an exposure which is why you would have received the notification, we undertake a risk assessment which considers all the other risk mitigating factors and then we can isolate affected residents and entire wings if necessary.
When we receive a notification, we remain unaware of who the person is or what time they attended. So, unless visitors contact us and advise of their Covid positive status we have to spend a very long time to go through a process of elimination to narrow down the field of risk to residents and staff. So, thank you for letting us know you received a notice.’
Thank you to everyone for playing your part in our risk mitigating strategy, it is greatly appreciated.
As you know NSW Health is no longer issuing daily case numbers, however we still monitor numbers regularly. Did you know that up until 6 March there was still over 900 covid positive cases in our region? Mask wearing in the community has almost completely disappeared and you may feel like the odd one out wearing a mask, however it is still a very good form of protection and certainly encouraged by Maroba. Please be careful when out and about in the community; wear your mask and remember the basics of hand hygiene.
Our volunteer recruitment drive in the last update was very successful and we thank those who have put up their hand. If you see a new face at the door, please be patient whilst our new volunteers learn their important concierge role.
Lastly, happy International Women’s Day to all in our community.
Yours sincerely,
Viv Allanson, CEO
2022.03.08 Coronavirus Update #97