The South Australian Government announced a Level 5 stay at home order from 6:00 pm on 20 July 2021 following the latest outbreak of COVID-19 in the community. The restrictions are noted in a new Public Activity Direction.

South Australians can only leave home for five reasons:

• Care and compassion
• Essential work
• Purchase of essential goods or services
• Medical reasons (including COVID testing and vaccination)
• Exercise (limited to members of the same household).

Masks, covering the nose and mouth, must be worn when leaving the home and in disability care facilities.

Essential workers

Essential workers may leave home to attend work, and includes anyone working in: ‘care services for people with needs because of homelessness, age, infirmity, disability, illness, a chronic health condition or other essential support services (such as family violence and sexual assault services)’

Exposure Locations

The number of exposure locations associated with this current outbreak continues to grow. It is important to check the SA Health contact tracing page on a regular basis as more exposure locations are added.

Change to services resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak

Registered providers should use the Notification of event form – COVID-19 to notify the NDIS Commission of changes to services resulting from the COVID-19 outbreak.

More information on outbreak management and infection control is available on the NDIS Commission website.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) for support workers

COVID support measures are available via the NDIA, including the ability to claim up to $27 per participant, per worker, per day for support worker PPE from certain participant plans when delivering assistance with daily life.

Priority Care Centres and My Home Hospital

In some circumstances, health care services available through South Australia’s Priority Care Centres and My Home Hospital may be relevant.

Four Priority Care Centres have been established across metropolitan Adelaide. The centres provide community-based health care for patients with urgent but non-life-threatening conditions, who would otherwise be seeking a service from an Emergency Department.

My Home Hospital is a public hospital-level service that delivers medical care to patients in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Service access includes doctors, nurses, allied health practitioners, some x-rays and blood tests, medication and other support services such as meals and personal care, if necessary.

Please do not hesitate to contact NDS if you have concerns or if there is any clarification relating to disability services that we may assist with.

Useful links

• SA Health - COVID-19 health information
  
• NDIS - For Providers - COVID-19
• Australian Government Department of Health - Disability provider Alerts
• Australian Government Department of Health - Providing disability support services during COVID-19
• Australian Government Department of Health - COVID-19 vaccine information for disability service providers
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources for health professionals, including aged care providers, pathology providers and health care managers
• NDS COVID-19 hub for information and resources including PPE