Dear Residents and Families/Representatives,

St Basil’s is pleased to have recently welcomed family, friends and nominated representatives back into our homes to visit their loved ones. It has been a joy to see people reconnect after such a challenging time.  The current requirements for visiting our residential aged care homes according to NSW Health are as follows:

Residents are permitted to have two fully vaccinated visitors aged 12 years and over, plus two children aged under 12 years per day.

• Visitors aged 12 years and over must have received a second dose of a COVID vaccination at least 14 days prior to their visit
• Children under 12 years are permitted to visit provided they are accompanied by a fully vaccinated person
• Where visits include a child under 12 it is strongly recommended, where possible:

• • the visit is in an outdoor area
  • the child should wear a mask
  • the child should have Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) just before the visit

• Visits should not be in any inside communal areas. All visitors must wear a surgical mask while visiting indoors
• People who are providing a service to the resident (including a health or other professional service) are not counted in the number of visitors permitted

There is an exemption to allow 4 visitors per day for the purposes of visiting a resident who is at the end of life. The exemption is subject to the condition that:

• no more than 4 people (including children) visit at any one time
• all visitors 12 years and over wear a mask while in an indoor area, unless the visitor is interacting with the resident they are visiting
• there is minimal interaction between the visitors and the staff and other residents

• The visitors in this circumstance do not need to be vaccinated, however appropriate care must be taken if unvaccinated visitors are entering the facility. It is strongly recommended:
  • the visit is solely inside the resident’s room and
  • where possible, the visitors have Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) just before the visit.

Visitors must not enter an RACF at all if they:

• have COVID-19 symptoms
• are a close or casual contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 unless they have completed their self-isolation and testing requirements
• are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• have been overseas in the previous 14 days, unless they are:

• fully vaccinated and have received a negative test 7 days or later after arrival in NSW
• a fully vaccinated international flight crew member and have a negative PCR test within 24 hours of arrival in NSW or a negative RAT taken on the same day prior to entry.

Residents are permitted to leave the facility and attend family gatherings or for other reasons but must abide by the current Public Health (COVID-19 General) Order 2021.

Facilities must ensure that residents are provided with appropriate personal protective equipment, infection control and mask wearing advice if they leave the facility.

If a person cannot wear a face mask because of a disability, physical or mental health illness or condition, they 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.

Before going on an outing, the “Consumer Outing Risk Assessment Form” must be completed by the consumer or the responsible person taking the consumer on the outing.  Social outing may take place provided that it’s done in a COVID safe manner and you provide St Basil’s management with at least 24 hours’ notice. It is preferable that you have evidence of a negative COVID-19 test result (from the within the last 72 hours of your visit) before visiting our homes or taking your loved one on an outing.

Download the Outing Form 

If you have any queries or concerns, please reach out to your facility General Manager.

Yours sincerely,

Spiro Stavis, Chief Executive Officer