Yooralla Pandemic Plan & Flu Updates

Yooralla's Pandemic Plan

Yooralla has a robust plan in the event of a pandemic occurring in Victoria. Health and safety of clients and staff is our first priority and proactive actions are being taken and monitored constantly.

For more information on the current situation in Victoria, please visit the DHS website link http://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/diseases/swine-influenza.

For information on specific actions being taken by Yooralla, please be in contact with your service manager.

Yooralla recommends you maintain a high level of personal hygiene, and if you experience flu-like symptoms please seek medical advice.

Please read Yooralla's Pandemic Plan. (Updated April, 2010)

Flu Updates

20th July 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place

No Yooralla services are currently closed as a result of swine flu virus.

Services which contain vulnerable clients continue to be monitored and stage 3 strategies are still applicable (i.e. isolation of sick staff, social isolation of clients, service closure if necessary).

Yooralla staff remain vigilant by staying away from the workplace if they are displaying flu like symptoms and by reporting any incidences amongst Yooralla clients.

6th July 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation strategies

A child who attends the Glenroy Early Childhood Centre is in hospital with the Swine Flu. However, the child has not attended for more than week so there is no need to take any precautions other than a watching brief to ensure no other children or staff attend the centre with flu like symptoms.
Two staff from Acacia Street Respite Service in Glenroy are away from work with flu like symptoms - one of these staff members has a child who has been diagnosed with the Swine Flu.

lst July 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures in Place
No Yooralla services are closed due to the Swine Flu virus at this stage. As indicated in previous updates, during the last week of the school term the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development closed the Balwyn school and the Junior section of the Glenroy school due to illness amongst the children and the subsequent risk of infection to very vulnerable groups of students. It is expected that both schools will reopen at the beginning of the next school term.

Yooralla staff continue to be very vigilant in staying away from the workplace if they are displaying flu like symptoms and for reporting any incidences amongst Yooralla clients. This is helping us enormously to keep everyone as safe as possible.

26th June 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place
Further to the advice that one of the units at Glenroy School had been closed, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development closed the entire Junior School yesterday afternoon. Students will not attend until next term (today is last day of school term), but Yooralla School Therapy staff remain at work.

25th June 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place

Service Closures and Social Isolation Strategies

A unit within the Glenroy School has been closed by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development after confirmation of a case of swine flu amongst the students - students in that unit have been sent home today. As in the case of the Belmore school, we assume that the students will not return to school until the beginning of term 3 (term 2 ends tomorrow). The Yooralla School Therapy team are continuing at work as usual.
A resident from one of the identified 'vulnerable' services in Eastern Region is in hospital with suspected Swine Flu (results of testing are expected this evening). Infection control strategies remain in place and the team leader, who was sent home yesterday as a precaution, will return to shift tomorrow.

Service reopening

Following medical clearances the Altona North Early Childhood kindergarten group resumed today.

24th June 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place.

The Department of Education and Early Childhood Development has made the decision to exclude all students from the Belmore School following a confirmed case of Swine Flu. The school staff and Yooralla staff will continue to go to work but students will be kept away - it is assumed that they will recommence at school at the beginning of next term (there are only 3 days left of this term).

Children who attend Belmore school and access other Yooralla services, e.g. facility based respite, will continue their planned service (unless they are presenting with flu-like symptoms).

Yooralla's Pandemic Newsletter (8th Edition) was released today.

23/06/2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place.

There has been a Swine Flu case amongst children at the Altona North Early Childhood Kindergarten group - Yooralla children have been excluded from the service for the rest of this week (due to their vulnerability associated with medical issues).
There is a confirmed case of a child who attends the Belmore school - the School Therapy staff are continuing at work as usual on high alert for any symptoms.

22/06/2009

Following the decision to return to Stage 2 of Yooralla's Pandemic Operational Plan, the following services which contain vulnerable clients will continue to be monitored and stage 3 strategies will continue to apply (i.e. isolation of sick staff, social isolation of clients, service closure if necessary). Decisions will continue to be made on a case by case basis and advised through the regular update and in the e-newsletter (now to be issued weekly on a Wednesday).

These services will also be the highest priority for distribution of PPE. It is intended that PPE stocks will continue to be stockpiled and available until the end of the flu season or until a vaccine is readily available prior to the end of the season.

Shared Supported Accommodation Services
Facility Based Respite Services in Eastern and North West Regions
School Therapy Services in Eastern and North West
All Early Childhood Intervention Services
All First Base Day Services

19th June, 2009

The government has moved its flu pandemic level to 'PROTECT'. The key elements to the national 'protect phase', that all States and Territories will be expected to adhere to, are:

Focus on early treatment of those identified as displaying severe and moderate symptoms and people considered to be at heightened risk from swine flu, including pregnant women, the morbidly obese and those with respiratory conditions like asthma. Voluntary home isolation for those who are sick Antiviral drugs, including Tamiflu, will not be prescribed for otherwise healthy patients with mild symptoms People who come into contact with swine flu patients will not be quarantined Thermal scanners no longer used at airports Schools reopen, children who have travelled to swine flu affected areas no longer excluded from school.
After consultation with the nominated senior managers responsible for the implementation of the Pandemic Plan within Yooralla, and in light of the government decision to move to the 'Protect' category, the CEO (Sanjib Roy) has revised Yooralla's level to Stage 2.

At this level we will:

Continue to implement measures to minimise the risk of infection across all services using standard infection control measures. Stocks of personal protective equipment will be maintained and will be available where necessary. Monitor those services where people are at a high risk from the swine flu virus (such as the Ventilator Accommodation Support Service) and continue to implement strategies, including service closure or quarantine/social isolation, to ensure these clients are at the least possible risk of infection.
Residential services are asked to keep pantries stocked with non-perishable foods in case the status of the pandemic changes.
Staff are to remain away from work if they display flu like symptoms (but staff will not be sent home if they have been in contact with the virus - although this will be considered on a case by case basis in the vulnerable services outlined in dot point 2) The 24 hour help desk at Carnegie will be discontinued as of today, 19 June 2009 - queries are to be directed to service managers, but queries can be directed to the Pandemic Operations Manager at any time.
The staff redeployment register will be maintained.
The Swine Flu share point site will be maintained.
The web site will be updated at least weekly (or more often as needed).
The e-newsletter will be issued weekly (or more often if an urgent need arises).

Service Implications

The Belmore School Therapy service has reopened.
All staff who are currently working from home and/or who have been asked to stay away from work are to be asked to return on their next rostered day of work (unless they are displaying flu like symptoms). Managers, please ensure that direct contact is made with each of your staff members who are in this category.
Services will no longer be closed (or socially isolated) if a staff member or client is displaying flu like symptoms (or been in contact with someone with the Swine Flu) - the exception could be where clients have a high vulnerability to the virus.

Yooralla's Pandemic Newsletter (7th Edition) was released today.

22/7/2009

Following the decision to return to Stage 2 of Yooralla’s Pandemic Operational Plan, the following services which contain vulnerable clients will continue to be monitored and stage 3 strategies will continue to apply (i.e. isolation of sick staff, social isolation of clients, service closure if necessary). Decisions will continue to be made on a case by case basis and advised through the regular update and in the e-newsletter (now to be issued weekly on a Wednesday).

Shared Supported Accommodation Services
Facility Based Respite Services in Eastern and North West Regions
School Therapy Services in Eastern and North West
All Early Childhood Intervention Services
All First Base Day Services

18th June, 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place.

The Belmore School Therapy Service remains closed.

17th June 2009

With the Department of Human Services advising medical practitioners to 'diagnose' the presence of Swine Flu without testing for the virus, it is difficult to ascertain how many real cases there are in the community. Yooralla is opting to treat people with flu like symptoms 'as if' they have an infectious virus (that could possibly be the Swine Flu) and to take the necessary precautions to prevent or minimise the spread of the virus within our services.

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place

The School Therapy Service at the Belmore School has been closed for the rest of this week as a member of staff is displaying flu like symptoms.
Family Options Eastern family visits recommence today as medical clearances have been received.

16th June 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures in place.

Altona Early Childhood Service has reopened.
Family Options Eastern visits continue to be 'suspended' until test results are received for a member of staff.

A reminder to all staff that meetings and gatherings are to be kept to essential meetings only and that, wherever possible, discussions/meetings should be carried out by phone or email.

Yooralla's Pandemic E-Newsletter (6th Edition) was been released today.

15 June, 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place

The Shared Supported Accommodation Service in Cranbourne is in a 'social isolation' phase with residents being asked to stay at home. A staff member is displaying flu like symptoms following direct contact within the household of a confirmed case of the virus.
A child displaying flu like symptoms was sent home from Acacia Street respite on Saturday afternoon. Parents of other respite users at Acacia Street were informed and given the option of taking their family member home if they wished to do so.
The Altona North Early Childhood service will reopen today.
General tours of the ILC are still cancelled, this decision will be reviewed on Friday 19th June
ComTec appointments have resumed.

Here is the latest DHS advice for Health Professionals on testing procedures and social isolation.

12 June, 2009

Yooralla's approach of "containment" within Yooralla's stage 3 of the Pandemic Plan has been reviewed by the CEO, Sanjib Roy, and a decision has been made that we will continue with our current strategies for at least another week. This decision will be reviewed again on 19 June 2009.

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures In Place

Case managers in Family Options Eastern have suspended home visits as a precautionary measure for this week pending the outcome of tests of a colleague who is displaying flu like symptoms.
A respite user from Acacia Street Respite sent home on 26th May with flu like symptoms has been treated 'as if' she has the Swine Flu. Thankfully she has recovered and will resume respite once medical clearance is received. She has not attended the service for more than a week so there is no need for further quarantine measures or service closure.

Yooralla's Pandemic E-Newsletter (5th Edition) was been released today.

11 June, 2009

Service Closures and Social Isolation Measures in place

Altona North Early Childhood Centre remains closed until next Monday - we are in conversations with Early Childhood Advisors from the Department around our decision making in this area.
A residential unit in Ashburton is on a 'watching brief' with additional PPE delivered (just in case) following a staff member displaying flu like symptoms (having been in direct contact with a confirmed case of the virus).

10 June, 2009

Status of Service Closures and Social Isolation Strategies

The Surrey Hills office has reopened today.
The Altona North Early Childhood Intervention Service has been closed for the rest of the week (this involves 3 kindergarten programs for 2 groups of children) following a confirmed case of the Swine Flu in the child care centre next door. A number of children use both services. The service will resume normal programs on Monday 15 June 2009.

Yooralla's Pandemic E-Newsletter (4th Edition) was been released today.

9 June, 2009

Status of Service Closures and Social Isolation Strategies

VASS respite service has reopened offering up to five beds - respite will be restricted to one house only until further notice (although this will be reviewed twice weekly).
Equipment Library has reopened.
The Surrey Hills office will reopen tomorrow.
Hoskin Street Respite has reopened today (after a two day closure).

5 June, 2009

The government changed the Victorian response to the current Swine Flu Pandemic from contain to 'modified sustain' (details of what this means can be found on the DHS website).

Yooralla has made the decision to STAY at Stage 3 of the Yooralla Pandemic Plan - we believe that many of the Yooralla clients are in the 'vulnerable' group and we must maintain our focus on 'containment'. The 'stage 3 status within Yooralla will be reviewed at the end of next week, with Sanjib Roy, CEO, making the decision around a change if deemed appropriate (as per the Pandemic Plan).

Status of Service Closures and Social Isolation Strategies:

First Base Pascoe Vale has reopened
The Equipment Library has reopened
Surrey Hills office will remain closed until next Wednesday 10 June
ComTec appointments have been temporarily cancelled while awaiting outcome of testing for Swine Flu of a contact with staff (if the person who is being tested is cleared, appointments will resume)
General tours of the ILC have been cancelled
VASS Respite will reopen on Tuesday 9 June
Residents at an Eastern Residential Service have been asked to stay at home for seven days due to close contact
A growing number of staff are at home because of flu like symptoms or they have been in close contact with someone with the Swine Flu - the request for staff to remain away from work under these circumstances remains at 7 days (to return if they are showing no signs of flu like symptoms and/or with a medical clearance if they had been ill during that time - or leading up to their exclusion from the work place)

Yooralla's Pandemic E-Newsletter (3rd Edition) was been released today.

4 June, 2009

The current situation with Yooralla services that have been closed or restricted as a result of concerns about the Flu is:

VASS Respite remains closed pending discussions with DHS. Residents have been asked to keep visitors and outings to a minimum (avoiding crowded areas and asking people not to visit if they have flu like symptoms).
First Base Pascoe Vale will remain closed until the end of the week as we are still awaiting medical clearances.
The Equipment Library will reopen on Friday 5th June.
Surrey Hills office has been closed until Wednesday 10th June (very close contact with confirmed case).
All appointments with ComTEC have been cancelled until further notice. This decision is being reviewed daily.

The government pandemic warning has now been downgraded from containment to a 'modified sustain' phase. This means that Victoria will:

Give antiviral treatment to those people exhibiting the agreed clinical case definition of human swine flu, together with their immediate household contacts;
Require confirmed cases to isolate themselves for three days following the commencement of antiviral treatment, but household contacts will not be required to be quarantined;
Maintain intensive contact tracing in high risk settings like aged care facilities, hospitals and special schools to protect those at greater risk of severe complications from human swine flu;
Implement enhanced community-wide surveillance of influenza-like illness and undertake increased sampling to monitor the distribution of the virus and any changes in the dominant circulating influenza strain; and
schools will no longer be closed although students with flu like symptoms will be required to stay away from school for three days.

(from DHS website posted 3 June 2009)

The number of staff away from work who are either ill or have been in contact with someone with a confirmed case of the flu (directly or through a close family member) is increasing - a register is being kept centrally and it is essential that everyone emails pippin.perisanides@yooralla.com.au and Jennifer.boulton@yooralla.com.au with the name of the staff member who will not be at work, the service name, cost centre and the date. It is very important that we keep tight records in this area.

3 June, 2009

The current situation with Yooralla services that have been closed or restricted as a result of concerns about the Flu is:

VASS Respite remains closed pending discussions with DHS. Residents have been asked to keep visitors and outings to a minimum (avoiding crowded areas and asking people not to visit if they have flu like symptoms).
Acacia Street Respite reopened yesterday. Parents have been asked not to send children in if they have flu like symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed case of the virus.
First Base Pascoe Vale will remain closed until the end of the week as we are still awaiting medical clearances.
The Equipment Library will remain closed until further notice (this decision is being regularly reviewed).
Surrey Hills office has been closed for 7 days as of today (very close contact with confirmed case).

Yooralla's Pandemic E-Newsletter (2nd Edition) was been released today.

The Victorian Government Depart of Health has issued a Swine Flu General Fact Sheet transalted into these languages:
Arabic, Chinese, Dari, Greek, Italian, Somali, Spanish, Turkish and Vietnamese.

We all have a role to play in looking after our health. Good hygiene is vital.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
Throw the tissue in a plastic-lined rubbish bin after you use it
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread that way.

For the most up-to-date information :

Visit www.health.vic.gov.au
Call the Influenza Hotline on 180 2007 or
Call Nurse-on-Call on 1300 606 024 - for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)

Please call your GP if you have a flu like illness (fever and cough and fatigue).
Please call your local hospital ONLY if you are seriously unwell with flu like symptoms.

CURRENT SITUATION - H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Flu)

Australia's pandemic alert level remains at CONTAIN.

As of 1700hrs 1 June 2009 the official number of confirmed human swine flu cases in Victoria is 306.

Appropriate quarantine and treatment measures have been put in place for confirmed cases and their contacts.

Special Clinics
Dedicated flu clinics continue to operate at ISIS Community Health, Deer Park; Plenty Valley Community Health at the Northern Hospital; Dandenong and Clayton community rehabilitation centres; Melton Health; and the Craigieburn Health Service and are seeing an increased demand.

The Royal Children's and Austin hospitals have expanded their emergency department capacity to deal with increased demand.

School closures

For all information on schools go to www.education.vic.gov.au.

Border control

Current border control measures at international airports, remain in place and community surveillance measures are continuing.

Businesses
This remains a timely reminder for all organisations to look at their business continuity plans.

The whole community have a part to play in reducing the spread of human swine flu. All organisations should encourage staff who are ill not to come to work and to seek appropriate medical care if necessary.

DR ROSEMARY LESTER
Acting Chief Health Officer
Victoria

2 June, 2009

The current situation with Yooralla services that have been closed or restricted as a result of concerns about the Flu is:

VASS Respite remains closed pending discussions with DHS. Residents have been asked to keep visitors and outings to a minimum (avoiding crowded areas and asking people not to visit if they have flu like symptoms).
Acacia Street Respite will reopen today. Parents have been asked not to send children in if they have flu like symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with a confirmed case of the virus.
First Base Pascoe Vale will remain closed as we are still awaiting medical clearances.
The Equipment Library will remain closed until further notice (this decision is being regularly reviewed).

1 June, 2009

The influenza virus can stay on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours. www.healthemergency.gov.au video presentation on Infection Control and PPE for respiratory disease.
Airborne droplets can travel up to 2 metres if the droplets attach to dust or smoke, but according to the hotline 180 2007, it is highly unlikely to hang around in the air conditioning unless there is a lot of dust...
The hotline for information from Victorian Government is www.healthemergency.gov.au
Yooralla's Pandemic E-Newsletter (1st Edition) was been released today.

29 May, 2009

Yooralla currently has a number of services closed or with very restricted access due to concerns about Flu. They are:

the Ventilator Accommodation Support Service is closed to visitors until further notice
the Day Service in Pascoe Vale is closed until Tuesday 2 June 2009 (pending medical clearances)
the Ventilator Respite Support Service is closed until further notice (this decision is being reviewed 3 times a week)
the Equipment Library is closed until further notice (this decision is being regularly reviewed)

Staff and visitors are asked to monitor their own health and not visit a Yooralla site (or come to work) if they have flu - like symptoms or have been in contact with anyone with the Swine Flu (including indirect contact through family or members of their immediate circles).

An e-information bulletin will be issued next week. It will be sent to everyone with a Yooralla email address and also be put on the website. We want to ensure the best possible communication during this time.

The World Health Organisation and the Department of Human Services advise that the most effective way to reduce the risk of contracting the Influenza (H1N1) is to promote basic infection control procedures, including a high level of personal hygiene.

Infection control measures:

All staff have been requested to complete the Pandemic Infection Control training presentation
All sites have been provided with infection control promotion posters highlighting the critical importance of a high standard of personal hygiene
All sites have been provided with infection control Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that is appropriate for that service, including hand sanitiser and Viraclean surface disinfectant
The OHS Unit will be ordering more hand sanitiser and Viraclean surface disinfectant, and will be making available a PPE order form to all sites for ongoing supplies

In the first instance, if you have any queries, please talk to your service manager. However, for urgent advice or decisions or if there are queries that cannot be answered locally please call the Yooralla Pandemic hotline on 8574 4700.

Also, refer to Pandemic Plan for more information on Yooralla's preparations.

28 May, 2009

Following the increase in the number of cases of H1N1 flu in Victoria, Yooralla has taken precautionary actions and closed four services. There has been indirect contact with the virus (where staff have had family members at one of the schools where cases have been confirmed). There have been NO confirmed cases within the Yooralla community, but we are erring on the side of safety for clients, family members and staff. If you or any of your family/immediate circle come into contact with anyone with the virus PLEASE contact your service manager IMMEDIATELY so that we can make arrangements to support you and keep everyone safe. Staff are to contact their manager in the first instance. The phone line for information or support has been activated the number is 85744700.

26 May, 2009

Yooralla advises:

maintain very high standards of infection control (especially hand washing)
contact the OH&S unit if services require supplies of personal protective equipment (gloves, masks, handwash etc)
contact your manager if you or your family have had direct contact with anyone who has the virus
that Area Managers talk to staff working in respite facilities in the North West and Eastern Region asking them to stay at home if they have cold or flu symptoms and/or have been in contact with anyone with the virus
that Managers talk to staff working in Day, School and Early Intervention services asking them to stay at home if they have cold or flu symptoms and/or have been in contact with anyone with the virus
That managers write to participants and families in Day, School and Early Intervention services asking them to stay or to keep their child/family member at home if they have cold or flu symptoms and/or have been in contact with anyone with the virus,/li>
That a similar appropriate communication be made with staff, clients and families using the recreation service
That a similar appropriate communication be made with supported employees at Dualware (particularly in Melbourne)

Please remain on high alert and if you have signs of cold or flu stay away from work . Respite users have been asked not to use the service if there has been contact with anyone with the virus and/or if any flu - like symptoms are present.