Face Masks now Required
On 1 December 2020, the South Australian Emergency Management Directions were updated.
Information about changes to Directions can be found at: https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/response
The key change for residential aged care services in the new Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 15) (COVID19) Direction is that everyone onsite at a residential aged care home (excluding residents and children under 12 years) must wear a surgical mask (covering mouth and nose) at all times when in the physical presence of other people. Cloth masks are not acceptable.*
Masks are now mandatory in health care, residential care, disability support or aged care services when people are in the physical presence of others. This includes care providers, patients, clients, residents, admin and other staff, employees, visitors, students, contractors and any other people on the site. This is in addition to previous personal protective equipment requirements for people offering personal care services
Under the Emergency Management (Public Activities No 14) (COVID-19) Direction 2020, masks must also be worn at all Resthaven Community Services sites, Communal areas in retirement villages, and at Agedcare Alternatives information service. Resthaven must comply with the COVID-safe plans at each site. For contact tracing purposes, everyone must scan a QR code using the camera on their smartphone on entry at Community Services sites and at Agedcare Alternatives. The COVID SAfe Check-In will enhance contact tracing and keep the South Australia community COVID safe.
The app uses the phone’s camera to scan the venue’s unique QR code and securely collects limited personal information. These details will be kept for 28 days and will only be released to SA Health for official contact tracing purposes.
If you do not have a mobile phone that can scan a QR code, you will need to complete a different version of a sign-in sheet that has been prescribed as part of COVID safe plan.
To scan the QR code, open the camera on your phone and hold it over the QR code. You will be taken to a SA Government portal to fill in your name and phone number.
You will need to download the MySAgov app on your phone, which you can do via the app store. However, you do not need to create an account. See more information about the MySAgov app.
These requirements apply to all employees, visitors, volunteers, contractors, clients or anyone who may attend on-site.
Wearing a face mask must be combined with other preventive measures, including performing frequent hand hygiene and physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres when possible.
*On 3 December, the Emergency Management (Residential Aged Care Facilities No 16) (COVID-19) Direction 2020 came into effect and removed the need for those other than staff to wear a surgical mask. Masks are still compulsory.