Good evening all,
Please be aware that the NSW Government has announced this evening, following a crisis cabinet meeting, that Orange, Blayney, and the Cabonne Shire Council will go into lockdown from midnight tonight (11:59pm, 20 July 2021) for seven (7) days.
The stage one restrictions mean that impacted residents can only leave their home for essential things.
Alerts have been issued for a number of venues after a COVID-19 positive man visited those listed regions last Friday and Saturday (17-18 July).
Anyone who was present at these sites is a close contact and is urged to get tested and isolate for 14 days.
The following sites are listed as exposure venues:
- EG Fuelco Australia, 1 Hanrahan Place, Orange, Saturday, July 17, 5:45pm to 6:00pm
- Officeworks Orange, 179/181 Byng Street, Saturday, July 17, 4:35pm to 5:05pm
- Woolworths, North Orange Shopping Centre, 9 Telopea Way, Friday, July 16, 3:00pm to 3:30pm, and Saturday, July 17, 1:20pm to 1:50pm
- Pizza Hut, 33 Bathurst Road, Saturday, July 17, 4:55pm to 5:05pm
- CTC Orange, North Orange Shopping Centre, Shop 8, 9 Telopea Way, Saturday, July 17 from 1:50pm to 2:00pm
In response to this lockdown, centre-based Day Programs within Orange will be suspended for the duration of the lockdown period, and staff are to offer home-based day programs instead.
Further, external visitors are now not permitted to enter any Mercy Connect owned / operated facility or accommodation in Orange unless approval has been given by the CEO Office, or Ms Caroline Cummins (Executive Leader – Clinical Services).
Staff are reminded not to enter any Mercy Connect facilities or sites if they:
- Have been to any of the (above) listed exposure sites
- Have visited the Greater Sydney region (including Nepean Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Illawarra and Central Coast) in the previous 14 days; or,
- Have visited the Greater Melbourne region in the last 7 days; or,
- Have any COVID-19 symptoms – fever (37. 5°C or higher) or symptoms of COVID-19; or,
- Are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 and are within their self-isolation period; or,
- Live in a household with a person who is currently self-isolating; or,
- Are waiting for the results of a COVID-19 test.
QR Code
It is compulsory that all staff and approved visitors sign in at Mercy Connect facilities / sites using the QR Code. The electronic system is a legal requirement and highly important for contact tracing. If any staff / visitor is unable to check in with the QR code then there will be a paper-based alternative.
Further, a COVID-19 Declaration / Questionnaire form must be completed prior to the visit and returned to reception@mercyconnect.org.au.
Face Masks
All Mercy Connect staff and approved external visitors are still required to wear face masks when working with participants in any setting / location, until further notice. Any staff requests for exemptions to the Mercy Connect-specific restrictions must be referred to Ms Caroline Cummins or the CEO Office.
Please note that this latest COVID-19 outbreak is an evolving situation, and further restrictions may be put into place without prior consultation or warning, subject to government advice or alerts.
Together we grow.
Regards,
Trent Dean
Chief Executive Officer