The rules have changed regarding exemptions to the requirement to wear a mask.

If you cannot wear a face mask because of a disability, physical or mental health illness or condition, you must carry either

• a medical certificate or letter signed by a registered health practitioner (such as a doctor) or a registered NDIS provider or
• a statutory declaration.

A statutory declaration will require you to identify your disability, physical or mental health illness or condition and declare

• you have the physical or mental health illness or condition or disability and
• the physical or mental health illness or condition, or disability makes wearing a fitted face covering unsuitable

The rules around check-in have changed. From 12 July, more businesses and organisations will need to have check-in set up at their premises. In compliance with the new NSW Health rules, I will ask you to use the QR code check in when you attend your appointment. To save your time at your appointment, please download the Service NSW App.

IMPORTANT:
As of 26 June 2021, there are new restrictions in place across NSW. In accordance with these precautions, you must wear a mask when you attend your appointment. This is a condition of entry to my practice. Please be aware that the twelve hour notice of cancellation policy will apply.

If you have been in the Greater Sydney area, including the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour on or since 21 June 2021, you need to observe the new stay-at-home rules.

From today, 26 June 2021, there are new restrictions in place across NSW. In accordance with these precautions, please wear a mask when you attend your appointment.

I will post updates in line with any new information from NSW Health.

If you have been to Victoria since 12 May, please check the Victoria Department of Health and Human Services website regularly to see if you have visited any of these venues of concern.

If so, immediately follow the relevant public health advice.

Please do not attend your appointment if this applies to you, without first contacting me to discuss the matter.

Venues of concern continue to be identified and the associated advice for people who have attended them can also change in the rapidly evolving environment. It is important to check the website regularly to see if new venues of concern have been added and if the advice for people who have been to existing venues of concern has been updated.

New locally acquired case in Byron Bay; enhanced COVID-safe measures apply.

NSW Health was notified overnight of a new locally acquired case of COVID-19 in northern NSW and enhanced COVID-safe measures will apply to the local government areas of Tweed Shire Council, Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Lismore City Council from 5pm today (Wednesday).

While urgent investigations and contact tracing are ongoing, NSW Health is adopting a cautious approach to minimise the risk of further transmission.

As of 5pm today, Wednesday 31 March, the following rules will apply to the local government areas of Tweed Shire Council, Ballina Shire Council, Byron Shire Council and Lismore City Council:

• Mask wearing will become compulsory on public transport, in retail stores, and in all public indoor settings
• the one person per 4 square metre rule will apply at all public indoor settings including hospitality venues
• the number of household visitors will be capped at 30 including holiday rental properties.

These restrictions will remain in place until 11:59pm on Monday 5 April, when the community will be updated.

IMPORTANT:

In light of the current COVID-19 outbreak in Brisbane and the recent visit to Byron Bay by infectious individuals, please check the NSW Health website for new case locations and alerts and precautions.

If you have been to any of the case locations within the time frames listed, please contact me before attending an appointment, and observe the NSW Health guidelines on testing and/or self-isolation.

COVID-19 Vaccination program.

There are several different types of COVID-19 Vaccines. It is important to have access to reliable, evidence-based information about the vaccination program, to make informed choices.

The Australian Government has signed agreements for 3 of these different types

1. Pfizer/BioNTech Vaccine – messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine
2. AstraZeneca ChAdOx1-S COVID-19 vaccine – vector vaccine
3. Novavax Vaccine – protein subunit vaccine

Currently there are reports regarding the AstraZeneca Vaccine, with 40 cases out of the over 17 million people vaccinated having blood clots. It has not been proven that the vaccine was the cause but several European countries have chosen to temporarily pause the roll out of this vaccine.

The Subcommittee of the Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety for the World Health Organisation is currently reviewing and assessing the latest safety data and will communicate the findings as soon as they are available.

Today (19/3/2021), The European Medicines Agency (EMA)- ”The mission of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is to foster scientific excellence in the evaluation and supervision of medicines, for the benefit of public and animal health in the European Union (EU).” has assessed the AstraZeneca vaccine to be safe and not the cause of the blood clots that have been reported.

Several European countries have already recommenced using the AstraZeneca Vaccine since the EMA handed down its findings.

The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) continues to monitor overseas data and information from Europe, in particular, regarding this vaccine. There have been no cases of blood clots in any Australian who has received the AstraZeneca vaccine to date and recommendations are to continue with the vaccination program.

The Mayo Clinic in the USA has published useful information on the 3 different types of vaccines- messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, vector vaccine, protein subunit vaccine and their mechanism of action.

As registered practitioners, we owe it to our patients to be able to offer credible information from reputable, proven sources so they are able to make an informed choice. The vaccine is voluntary, a choice that we all will need to make and that choice should be made with as much knowledge and proven, accurate information as possible.

Under the National Health Practitioner Regulation Law, registered practitioners from the 16 registered health professions (which includes Acupuncturists and Chinese Herbal Medicine Practitioners), are obligated to participate in efforts to promote the health of the community through disease prevention.

Each of the registered health professions has strict Codes of Conduct that govern the way registered practitioners must practise and AHPRA has confirmed that promoting or advertising any anti–vaccination messages or claims in any forum will be investigated and may lead to regulatory action.

The Federal Government and the State and Territory Government websites, NT, SA, WA, TAS, VIC, NSW and QLD provide all the relevant information on the rollout of the vaccine in each jurisdiction.

As of today, 23 November 2020, NSW Health has introduced mandatory electronic check-in of clients for all Registered COVID-Safe businesses. This is done by using a unique QR code assigned to the business. Accordingly, I have my QR code on display at the entrance to my practice.

To save time at your appointment, please download the Service NSW app to your phone. You can then scan the QR code from within the app to check in easily and efficiently.

From Monday, 10 August it will be a condition of entry to my practice that you use hand sanitiser on arrival. If you prefer, you can use the hand washing facilities, on condition you use hot water, hand wash and disposable paper towels provided.

Continue reading “COVID-19 Update #6; 9 August 2020”