Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) is further tightening COVID-19 screening at its facilities with the introduction of temperature checks for staff and visitors.
Infra-red thermometer checks began at Griffith Base and Wagga Wagga Base hospitals last week and will be rolled out at other facilities in the next few days.
MLHD Chief Executive Jill Ludford said, "We began the increased screening at the two base hospitals as they are our busiest facilities with the biggest number of staff and visitors.
"We now have additional thermometers and have a plan to roll out these measures across the District in coming days."
The temperature monitoring are being conducted at access points to hospitals by staff using an approved temperature monitoring device to accurately measure the presence of fever.
In addition, there are screening questions including have you had contact with a COVID-19 positive case and do you have any flu-like symptoms?
If a visitor answers yes to any of these questions or has a temperature, they will be directed not to visit the hospital and to contact the MLHD COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 831 099.
If a staff member answers yes to any of these questions or has a temperature, the staff member will be placed on leave and asked to contact the MLHD COVID-19 Hotline 1800 831 099.
Additionally staff will be advised to stay home until the temperature resolves.
Staff are screened daily on entry to any facility and a different coloured sticker will be provided each day on their identification badge.
This is in addition to daily staff wellness checks occurring at clinical handover, or the start of the day for non-clinical areas.
The new screening measure comes on top of visitor restrictions at MLHD hospitals and Multipurpose Services (MPS) in early April.
Find out more here. (https://www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au/about-us/newsroom/media-releases/covid-19-visitorrestrictions)
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