Important updates have been made to the recent Direction under the Emergency Management Act, amending requirements relating to masks. The updated Direction came into force yesterday from 5.40pm. More information from the Department of Human Services can be found below.
As you will be aware, the Direction put in place on Tuesday under the Emergency Management Act expanded the definition of 'public activities' to include the provision of health care, residential care, disability support or aged care services. Under the Direction, people or organisations conducting the public activity are required to develop a COVID-Safe plan, undertake contact tracing and wear masks under certain circumstances.
The sector has certainly been very busy preparing COVID-Safe plans, setting up the new COVID SAfe Check-In and ensuring that masks are worn when providing services.
In the update put in place late yesterday, important changes have been made to the details around mask-wearing requirements. You can view the updated Direction here. Key changes include:
- References to single use surgical masks have been changed to face masks (covering the nose and mouth). This recognises there are many situations where a cloth mask is suitable (e.g. a volunteer in a disability or aged care service delivering food to clients at home). Organisations can further stipulate the type of masks that must be worn by their staff and clients (where applicable).
- A person receiving individual care in their home is not required to wear a mask – this includes in a supported independent living situation, which is considered a home.
- Exemptions for providers or clients wearing masks – this exemption can now be made if it is also in the opinion of the service organisation providing the service that wearing a mask would hinder the provision of relevant care. In addition, the exemption now applies if wearing a mask would impact patient client safety.
- Significantly, the direction now recognises that some people are unable to provide their contact details to a venue as they cannot communicate that information in writing or verbally. The direction allows for a person at the venue or a companion to provide the relevant details on that person’s behalf.
- In regards to wearing masks, the new direction clarifies that wearing a mask ‘at all times when in the physical presence of others’ means if they are in the same room as that other person (exemptions may be applicable based on individual circumstances).
The Department of Human Services (DHS) has received a number of queries from organisations seeking clarity on the directions, and has compiled some of the most frequently asked questions. The advice below has been clarified by DHS with either the Deputy Chief Public Health Officer, or SA Police.
Q: Our organisation provides services that are a public activity under the Direction, but we also have administrative offices where we provide the service / separate to where we provide the service. Do our office-based staff need to wear masks?
The administrative / office part of your premises is not where the public activity takes place, so the Direction does not apply for this part of your premises. Please ensure you follow guidelines for workplaces around density levels, physical distancing and working from home where applicable.
Q: In addition to other disability support services, our organisation provides supported employment for people with disability. Do we need to comply with the Direction?
This service is not considered a public activity under the Direction. Supported employment providers are considered employers, and should follow guidelines for workplaces around density levels, physical distancing and working from home where applicable.
Q: We are a disability support agency with funding through the NDIS. We operate shared living accommodation and have support all times participants are at home including overnight (supported independent living). We also support people in their home. How does the Direction apply to us?
Under the Direction, you are provided a public activity and your organisation will need to complete a COVID SAfe plan. However, because services are provided in-home (either the home operated by your organisations or a private residence) you do not need to implement the QR contact tracing code for these in-home services. If you organisation also provides services to people at your premises, you would need to use the QR code for that activity.
Questions or concerns?
If you have any questions or concerns about the directions, the DHS is encouraging people to contact DHS’s COVID-19 Response team.
Keeping up with news and updates
To keep up with news and updates as they eventuate, you may like to check in for recent updates from the Department on their website in their COVID-19 NGO newsletter.
Key resources
www.covid-19.sa.gov.au
www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/COVID-19
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