Face masks required for VIC aged care staff – additional million released from stockpile

Aged care workers in Victoria are now required to wear face masks with the directive applying to both residential care and home support workers. Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said a further one million masks will be released from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS) to support this requirement. In addition to this, one million masks will be provided to disability workers in Victoria. This release of masks joins the four million masks provided to aged care workers in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire and the one million masks for primary health workers announced earlier this week. Similar requirements are now in place for aged care workers in south western Sydney. Staff working in residential aged care facilities in Liverpool, Campbelltown, Campden Wingecarribee and Wollondilly are required to wear surgical masks while in the facility until at least the end of July. Minister Hunt announced the provision of an additional 500,000 masks for these areas. Since late March, more than 295 million masks have been placed in the NMS in addition to over four million gowns, more than 41 million gloves and more than five million goggles and face shields. Aged care operators can request masks and other PPE for in home and residential aged care workers at AgedCareCOVIDPPE@health.gov.au.