Page 1456 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 1 June 2022
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However, the Check In CBR app has undergone an update to include a new health screening tool which can be used on a voluntary basis by high-risk facilities where the screening of visitors and staff remains important. The health screening tool became available for high-risk facilities from 20 May.
The new health screening tool will allow high-risk facilities such as hospitals, residential aged care facilities, disability services and correctional facilities that often have separate screening and check-in methods, to use one tool to screen and automatically check-in visitors and staff. Both the existing business profile function and check-in patron cards remain compatible with the screening tool. The screening tool includes a number of generic questions, and it is intended that the same questions will now be used by all high-risk settings to ensure a level of consistency, wherever possible. It is important to note that the screening tool will not be mandatory for use by operators of high-risk settings but provides an optional resource for individual facilities. The Check In CBR app now also provides a direct link to the online form to record positive RAT results, which I can attest works well.
On 12 May 2022 the government also announced that the public health emergency declaration would be extended for a further period of 90 days, through to 11 August. In the Chief Health Officer’s 26th report on the status of the public health emergency due to COVID-19, dated 2 May, it was recommended that the public health emergency be extended for a period of 60 days due to the ongoing public health risk posed by COVID-19. However, the legislation currently before the Assembly to establish a new regulatory framework for the management of COVID-19 was not then debated in the last sitting period.
It is therefore important to ensure that there is sufficient time for the implementation of a COVID-19 management declaration, should the Public Health Amendment Bill (No 2) pass the Assembly. It is also important to ensure that risks associated with this transition are carefully managed as we respond to COVID-19 and influenza. In this context, the Chief Health Officer provided further advice to government that recommended a 90-day extension, rather than the original 60 days proposed in the 2 May report.
As always, the health and wellbeing of our community remains of the utmost importance. The ACT government will continue to monitor the situation in the ACT, and Australia more broadly, to ensure that we are well prepared for the coming months. I present a copy of the statement:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)—ACT Government response—Update—Ministerial statement, 1 June 2022.
I move:
That the Assembly take note of the paper.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
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