Two states have already announced they will follow Queensland and take up the National Cabinet advice and allow families back into aged care homes.
Both states had some of the tightest restrictions in the country, but Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein has announced from Monday 22 June, the state will ease its visitor restrictions on aged care homes, including:
- Up to two people per visit with visit times unrestricted and multiple visits allowed in one day, subject to the home’s policy;
- Persons under the age of 16 will be allowed to visit an aged care facility;
- Visiting services such as hairdressers and allied health professionals will be able to attend a facility; and
- Residents will be allowed to leave the facility, for example with friends and family.
“All other restrictions remain the same and must continue to be adhered to,” he said.
Tasmania has no active COVID-19 cases, with the last known case recorded over a month ago.
In South Australia, a new Public Health direction has also been issued by Police Commissioner, Grantley Stevens, to allow:
- Two visitors at a time (previously it was one visitor)
- Any child aged under 16 to visit aged care homes
- Residents to leave and return to their homes as they like (residents who left their home were initially banned from re-entering unless they left for medical or dental treatment or to attend a funeral of an immediate family member)
- Prospective resident visits
- Visits by the regulator
South Australia has also had no new cases of coronavirus for several weeks, with the only new case a man who flew in from Victoria and was deemed to no longer be infectious.
No word yet on whether the other States and Territories have also taken up the new advice – we will keep you posted.
