Federal Government loosens COVID-19 visitor restrictions, isolation guidelines

The Federal Department of Health has updated its guidance on managing visitors and lockdowns in residential aged care, loosening some restrictions. The new interim guidance aims to ensure each aged care resident can be visited by one “Essential Visitor” at all times, who will be provided with basic infection prevention and control training including the use of personal protective equipment. Additionally, recommended lengths of isolation and mobility restrictions for residents during an outbreak have been halved from 14 days to seven. According to Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Senator Richard Colbeck, the guidance is based on expert medical advice from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC).

“We need to shift the balance from restricting visitors during an outbreak to providing access by at least one visitor per resident per day. This will assist to reduce the impact of the restrictions to date and provide families with more valuable time with their loved ones. “Every effort is made to protect residents and with these processes in the place, this provides the opportunity to safely increase visitation for residents,” he said.

The Essential Visitor policy, advocated by COTA, was proposed in a draft of the Aged Care Visitor Access Code in November.