To protect yourself and your loved ones:
For up-to-date advice visit COVID-19.
NSPs are still available to access during COVID-19.
Visit NSW Health - NSP outlets for more information.
It is essential that all residential rehabilitation services have a COVID-19 response plan in place so that prevention activities are active and action can be taken quickly should staff or residents present with respiratory symptoms or come into contact with a person with COVID-19.
Staff and residents need to understand what COVID-19 is, its signs and symptoms, how it is spread, and what they can do to limit transmission. Information is updated regularly on Testing and managing COVID-19. Residential facilities are responsible for ensuring their staff are adequately trained and competent in aspects of outbreak management prior to an outbreak. Staff need to know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 in order to identify and respond quickly to a potential outbreak, and be competent in implementing infection control guidelines
Residential services need to follow NSW Health Infection Prevention and Control Policy and carefully consider their protocols for waste disposal, processing of reusable equipment, environmental cleaning, laundering of linen and protocols for food handling and cleaning of used food utensils.
Advice on control and prevention of COVID-19 in residential facilities is provided by the Clinical Excellence Commission and NSW Health at Infection prevention and control COVID-19.
Also review the NSW Health guidance for residential aged care facilities.
If a resident or staff member develops cold or flu-like symptoms on site provide them with a face mask and isolate the resident or staff member (ideally in a separate room if possible) to reduce the risk of spreading the infection to other residents and staff.
NSW Health recommends anyone with respiratory symptoms or unexplained fever should be tested for COVID-19. This is especially important for anyone who lives or works in a high risk setting, such as a residential facility.
In the event of a confirmed case or outbreak in a residential AOD service, the NSW Health Public Health Units will provide support in relation to testing and identifying the control measures that need to be in place. The residential facility is responsible for managing the outbreak in consultation with the Public Health Unit, and for making decisions about discharge / closure based on specific circumstances and nature of the client population.
The local Public Health Unit will assist residential facilities in confirming outbreaks, provide guidance on outbreak management and assistance with informing relevant stakeholders.
Organisations should have response plans in place, which identify all relevant contacts in preparation for the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case.
Take home naloxone is available free of charge without a PBS prescription from participating community pharmacies in NSW and some drug and alcohol services for anyone at risk of experiencing or witnessing an opioid overdose. Further information for alcohol and other drug services is available at NSW Health - AOD services access to naloxone and Your Room - Naloxone.
All services are advised to regularly review the CEC IPAC manual for advice on managing the spread of COVID-19.
The purpose of this manual is to provide guidance on infection prevention and control requirements for the management of patients or clients with suspected, probable or confirmed COVID-19.
The target audience is staff working in acute and non-acute healthcare settings.
It is recommended that AOD clients receive all applicable COVID-19 vaccinations to reduce risk of severe illness.
Information regarding COVID-19 vaccination is available via Get the facts about COVID-19 vaccination.
Advice if you or someone in your service is suspected of having contracted COVID-19 is available on Testing and managing COVID-19.
For resources to help health workers keep safe in the workplace visit CEC - Health worker safety.
Seek advice and support through:
There is no specific guidance for dealing with people who are symptomatic but refuse to be tested, but this will be dealt with on a local level. It is recommended that you contact your local Public Health Unit for advice and assistance if there are any concerns about specific circumstances or individuals.
There are no longer isolation requirements for those who test positive to COVID-19.
Information on managing a positive COVID-19 infection can be found on Testing positive to COVID-19 and managing COVID-19 safely at home.
Information regarding managing a health workers positive COVID-19 infection and return to work can be found on CEC - COVID-19 and other ARI – Managing health worker exposures and return to work in a healthcare setting.
If a client or staff member is suspected to have COVID-19 they should be tested as soon as possible. This is especially important for high-risk settings such as residential AOD services. For advice on testing visit Testing and managing COVID-19
No. Organisations should submit a 'Serious Clinical Incident Report for Alcohol and Other Drugs Funded NGOs Report' if there is a COVID-19 outbreak that seriously impacts on the organisation's ability to deliver services in line with the funded activity and performance expectations of the funding contract. Instructions and a form is available at Serious Clinical Incident Report.
Justice Health the NSW Ministry of Health are working to ensure people have a pre-release treatment plan and where appropriate moving people to depot buprenorphine prior to release. The NSW Ministry of Health and Justice Health are working together. In cases where people are released early and not known to Justice Health, and / or do not have a plan in place, then services should contact the local health district for support. The Opioid Treatment Line is also available for support on 1800 642 248.
For answers to more questions about COVID-19, visit Testing and managing COVID-19.
