NSW Health Warns Of Increase Of COVID -19, Influenza and RSV In ECEC Services

NSW Health is currently seeing an increase in the number of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in ECEC services and is predicting cases to grow over the coming months.

What services need to know:

• NSW Health is currently seeing an increase in the number of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases in ECEC services.
• Flu and COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are an important way to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community.
• Services will receive an additional supply of Rapid Antigen Tests to support staff testing given the anticipated rise in cases.
• Services are reminded to keep up with COVID-smart measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory and viral illnesses. This includes staying home if you are sick.
• All positive COVID test results must continue to be reported to Service NSW and the service. This will ensure you understand your relative level of risk and have access to support from NSW Health if required.

In order to minimise disruption and protect children and staff, services are recommended to implement additional COVID-smart procedures if they are seeing a significant rise in the incidence of COVID-19 and other respiratory and viral infections.

Services are reminded to maintain COVID-smart measures, which will continue to be reviewed and updated as necessary, based on health advice.

COVID - Smart Measures 

• Masks - NSW Health continues to strongly encourage the wearing of masks indoors when you cannot physical distance. 

• Additional RAT supplies - The Department of Education will soon distribute additional supplies of Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) to all service providers to support the response to the anticipated rise in cases. Each member of staff will receive 1 multipack containing 5 RAT kits.  The supply will allow for use as required by ECEC staff. These may be used, for example, should a staff member be symptomatic, if there are cases arising at the service or if a staff member is identified as close contact and able to return to work. 

• Hand hygiene - Services are encouraged to remind staff, children and visitors to practice simple hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds - you should not rely on hand sanitiser only.

• Individual services should continue to evaluate what is most appropriate for their service and their unique circumstances. For example, staggered drop-off or pick-up times, or collecting children from outside the service, encourage appropriate outdoor programs to support distancing while considering sun-safe practices. 

For more information: Keeping Safe This Winter