COVID-19 VACCINATION MANDATES FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Please be advised that the SA Government Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination No 7 (COVID-19) Direction 2022 has been revised and the requirement for dental workers in a private practice setting to be vaccinated for COVID-19 is no longer in place.
COVID-19 vaccination is still required under the Direction for all workers in aged care, hospitals and other ‘phase one’ locations, and may still be a requirement for workers in public settings. If you work in these settings, please consult your relevant line manager.
The ADA recommends, as part of good practice for ongoing infection prevention control and work, health and safety responsibilities, that dental staff continue to be vaccinated in line with government recommendations.
ADA HR have provided a range of advice for Members at https://www.ada.org.au/Covid-19-Portal/Cards/Dental-Profesionals/COVID-19-Vaccination/Mandatory-Covid-19-Vaccination-Templates
Should a practice wish to continue to mandate vaccination as part of their HR requirements, please feel free to consult with the ADA HR Hotline on 1300 232 462 or email [email protected]
COVID UPDATE - 14 OCTOBER 2022
A number of changes have come into effect as they relate to dental practices operating privately in South Australia.
We do not have the final documentation or directions at this time, so cannot provide fully definitive answers to some questions. However, based on what we do know, we provide you with the following information and advice at this time.
Mask Wearing
It is no longer compulsory to require staff and patients to wear a mask when entering a dental practice. We recommend – as part of your risk mitigation processes – that you encourage your staff and as many of your patients as possible to wear a mask as they have in the past.
Appropriate masks should always be worn as PPE while providing care. Refer to the ADA Risk Management Principles for Dentistry During the COVID-19 pandemic and the ADA Guidelines for Infection Prevention and Control Fourth Edition for guidance.
Positive Case Restrictions
Mandatory quarantine requirements for covid positive people have now been lifted but are still strongly recommended. In theory – a person (either knowingly or not) may attend your practice who is covid positive. Your ongoing commitment to screening questions – and requests for people to postpone their treatment/appointment if they are experiencing any cold or flu like symptoms should be maintained as part of your risk mitigation and infection control strategies.
Close Contact Rules
As per the removal of quarantine restrictions, close contact rules no longer apply in legislative terms. Again, your ongoing commitment to screening questions – and requests for people to postpone their treatment/appointment if they are experiencing any cold or flu like symptoms should be maintained as part of your risk mitigation and infection control strategies. Similarly, you may wish to continue to implement additional precautions for staff who are a close contact, such as wearing a PFR around others, regular RAT testing, as part of your risk mitigation and infection control strategies.
Return to Work
Staff who are COVID positive should not attend work for 7 days, as per SA Health recommendations
As part of your ongoing infection control processes, we recommend that staff who display cold and flu like symptoms, not attend the workplace. Whilst the legislative requirements for quarantine are no longer in place, good infection control procedures are the responsibility of all dental practitioners.
Should any of the information regarding these issues change or become clearer, we will of course update Members as soon as practicable.