21 Barclay Street Heywood VIC 3304

www.heywoodruralhealth.com.au Ph: (03) 5527 0555 Fax: (03) 5527 1900

4th May 2020 Dear Community and/or Home Care Packages client, As the Coronavirus (COVID19) situation rapidly evolves, Heywood Rural Health (HRH) and other Health Service Providers around Australia are preparing for the spread of the virus. HRH has been working with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to ensure that appropriate procedures are in place should cases be suspected or confirmed in our community. We encourage you to familiarise yourself with the following guidelines to reduce the likelihood of the Coronavirus transmission. WHAT YOU NEED TO DO Overseas travel Please ensure that if you have travelled or have returned from overseas in the past fourteen days you are required to self-isolate in accordance with Government requirements. Please stay away if you are unwell If you have recently been unwell, been in contact with someone who is unwell or you have symptoms of respiratory illness:

• Fever • Chills • Shortness of breath • Runny or stuffy nose • Sore throat • Cough • Muscle and joint pain • Tiredness/exhaustion • Headache

Please do not visit HRH until your symptoms have resolved. Follow the social distancing guidelines outlined by the Department of Health and Human Services. That is, maintain a distance of 1.5metres or more from others around you. If you are a Community Client of Heywood Rural Health, please phone your Doctor first if you have symptoms or need medical attention. They will tell you what to do next. If you are unable to reach your Doctor via telephone, then phone your nearest Urgent Care centre. Other ways to reduce the risk of spreading the Coronavirus (COVID-19): Wash - hands often with soap and running water, for at least 20 seconds. Dry - with paper towel or hand dryer. Try - not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Cover - your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow.

Isolate - yourself at home if you feel sick. If you take medication, ensure you have adequate supplies. Continue - healthy habits: exercise, drink water, get plenty of sleep. Don't - wear a face mask if you are well. Buy - an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with over 60 per cent alcohol. Get - the flu vaccination The Department of Health and Human Services have set up a dedicated hotline on 1800 675 498 should you require further information on the Coronavirus. Flu Vaccination Flu vaccinations continue to be available for current patients of Dr Samsun Nahar and Dr Erin Gordon at the Heywood Medical Clinic, via appointment only. Please contact 5527 0551 to make an appointment for your flu vaccination. HRH Community Services District Nursing: If you are a client of District Nursing Services and develop symptoms, please phone District Nursing (PH 5527 0551), prior to your scheduled home visit. DO NOT allow the District Nurse to enter your home. Community Services: If you are currently receiving any of our community based Allied Health services, such as Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics, Diabetes Education or Podiatry, you will receive a telephone call from your Allied Health professional prior to your scheduled appointment. Please DO NOT attend your appointment in person. Your Allied Health professional will advise you how you will receive your ongoing community Allied Health services, via telephone. If you need to discuss anything with your Allied Health professional or to arrange a new referral, please call the Heywood Community Health Medical clinic reception on 5527 0551. They will take a message and your Allied Health professional/ Intake coordinator will return your call Home Care Packages Program: For all enquiries relating to our home Care Packages program please telephone the Home Care Packages team on 5527 0551. Mental Health and Well Being If you need support with your mental health and wellbeing during social isolation, the Royal Flying Doctors Wellbeing program is providing counselling services to our community. Please see pamphlet located at the bottom of this information COVIDSAFE APP HRH actively encourages our staff and community clients to download and install the Federal Governments COVIDSAFE app available from Google Plan and the Apple Store The COVIDSafe app helps find close contacts of COVID-19 cases. The app helps state and territory health officials to quickly contact people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. The COVIDSafe app speeds up the current manual process of finding people who have been in close contact with someone with COVID-19. This means you’ll be contacted more quickly if you are at risk. This reduces the chances of you passing on the virus to your family, friends and other people in the community.

21 Barclay Street Heywood VIC 3304

www.heywoodruralhealth.com.au Ph: (03) 5527 0555 Fax: (03) 5527 1900

As the pandemic situation is constantly changing, I ask that you seek the latest Heywood Rural Health information from either our Facebook page, Twitter account @HeywoodRural or by clicking on our website www.heywoodruralhealth.vic.gov.au If you require any further information in relation to this communique, please contact the Community Health / Medical Clinic reception (03) 5527 0551. Thank you for adhering to these measures; they will greatly assist us in protecting our community in the event of an outbreak. We know this has been a difficult time for everyone, and we appreciate your support and patience. Yours Sincerely,

Leigh Parker ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

We need your help.Please downloadthe COVIDSafeapp today.

Download the COVIDSafe app today to keep yourself and your community safe by helping our health workers to notify you quickly if you’ve come in contact with someone who has Coronavirus.

With your privacy protected by law, COVIDSafe keeps a secure note of other users you’ve been near if you have to go out. So, if they test positive for Coronavirus, you’ll be notifi ed. It’ll help us stop the spread sooner, so we can all get back to the things we love.

Visit health.gov.au

Download the COVIDSafe app today.

Download theCOVIDSafe app