NSW Health has updated its advice to disability service providers.

Surveillance testing

Enhanced surveillance testing measures have been announced for some areas of Greater Sydney. Any staff impacted by these measures must carry evidence that a COVID-19 test has been undertaken within the timeframes noted below. (eg: SMS text message or email from the testing organisation). Providers will need to check testing before staff are permitted to work.

Residential Services

From 23 July 2021, workers who live in the City of Fairfield (Fairfield LGA) and Canterbury-Bankstown LGA are not permitted to enter a residential disability care facility outside of the Fairfield or the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA's unless they have been tested for COVID within the past 72 hours.

It is also recommended that services also consider regular COVID-19 testing every 3 days for staff who both live and work in residential services in the Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown LGA's.

Since 19 July 2021, workers who live in the Greater Sydney region and work in facilities more than 50km outside the Greater Sydney region have not been permitted to enter a facility unless they have had a COVID test within the preceding 7 days.

Home care or in-home support

From 23 July 2021, workers who live in the Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown LGA's are not permitted to work outside of the Fairfield or the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA's unless they have been tested for COVID within the past 72 hours.

Since 19 July 2021, workers who live in the Greater Sydney region and work more than 50km outside the Greater Sydney region have not been permitted to work unless they have had a COVID test within the preceding 7 days.

Only essential staff from Greater Sydney are allowed to work in areas outside of Greater Sydney.

Visitor restrictions and PPE

Greater Sydney

Residential services in this LGA must:

• Exclude all visitors, except those providing essential caring functions - these visits must be in the resident's room.
• Ensure all staff and essential care visitors wear a surgical mask (where exemptions don't apply). See additional advice for reasons when masks can be removed.
• Ensure residents are provided with appropriate PPE and infection control advice if they need to leave the facility for essential purposes.

Orange, Blayney and Cobonne

Residential services in these LGAs must:

• Allow just one visitor to provide essential caring functions
• Ensure all staff and essential care visitors wear a surgical mask (where exemptions don't apply)
• Ensure all essential visits take place in the resident's room
• Ensure that residents are provided with appropriate PPE and infection control advice if they need to leave the facility for essential purposes.

The situation with COVID-19 is changing rapidly and providers should continue to check the NSW Health website.

Further information about vaccinations and other measures can be found in the 19 July Disability Provider Alert from the Department of Health. 

NDS COVID-specific meetings

Following our first CEOs and Senior Leaders meeting on 16 July, NDS invites NSW providers to join us for a further discussion around the impact of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, on Friday 30 July at 11.00am. Register through NDS's website. In addition, providers are encouraged to join us for the COVID-19 prevention vaccines and outbreak management community of practice meeting on Thursday 29 July at 3.00pm.

Useful links

• NSW Health COVID-19 Disability Service Providers webpage
• For Providers - COVID-19 | NDIS website
• 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