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30 March 2021

Coronavirus Update

Tuesday 30 March 2021

Good morning all,

Please find the following information providing Staff/ Participants / Families / Guardians with an update on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following the latest advice received from the NSW Ministry of Health, there has been a community transmission of COVID-19 detected in Queensland and new close contact and casual contact locations in NSW.

The changed advice for NSW residential disability care facilities:

For visitors to Residential Disability Care Facilities:

  1. restrict entry for people who have been to Brisbane City, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay or Redland Council areas, or any Queensland contact tracing locations since 11 March 2021.
  2. restrict entry for people who have been to NSW close contact locations in Byron Bay at the time listed.
  3. a surgical mask should be worn by visitors:
  • to facilities in Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and Tweed council areas, or
  • who have been to Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and Tweed council areas since 26 March 2021.

For staff working in Residential Disability Care Facilities and Home Care Services:

  1. restrict entry/exclude if the staff member has been to any of the Queensland contact tracing locations since 11 March 2021.
  2. restrict entry/exclude if the staff member has been to Brisbane City, Ipswich, Logan, Moreton Bay and Redland Council areas since 11 March 2021.
  3. restrict entry/exclude if the staff member has been to NSW close contact locations in Byron Bay at the times listed.
  4. a surgical mask should be worn by staff:
  • working in facilities / services in Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and Tweed council areas, or
  • who have been to Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore and Tweed council areas since 26 March 2021.

However, Mercy Connect staff and visitors must continue using other forms of PPE (gloves, gowns), where required, and practice ongoing infection control practices (hand washing, social distancing).

All staff and visitors are still required to ‘check-in’ at all Mercy Connect facilities using the QR Code System for contract tracing.

Mercy Connect, in line with governmental advice, will continue to monitor official advice and guidance daily, and may reintroduce such restrictions at short notice if there is a reported increase in COVID-19 cases within the community.

Staff / Participants / Families / Guardians can access these updates via the NSW Health Disability Support Providers webpage at

Further updates will be provided as additional information is received.

Together we grow.

Trent Dean
Chief Executive Officer