Tasmania's aged care visitor restrictions were eased on Monday but the state's regulations will remain stricter than advised by the National Cabinet for another two weeks.
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The National Cabinet advised limiting visits to a maximum of two visitors, at one time, per day. However in Tasmania residents are only allowed a visit once a week until May 25.
The state's largest not-for-profit aged care provider Southern Cross Care has implemented the Tasmanian government's regulations.
SCC's chief executive officer Robyn Boyd would not comment on if she believed the state's restrictions went far enough but said the organisation was focused on residents and staffs health and wellbeing.
From May 1 a person must have had an influenza vaccination to visit an aged care home in Australia. At SCC Ms Boyd said a vaccination record from a health practitioner or a Medicare immunisation history statement was needed to prove a flu vaccination.
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She said families were also asked to call and pre-arrange visits to ensure facilities could manage the number of visitors.
"This allows the facility to ensure full adherence to infection control processes and social distancing," she said.
"[There will be] respiratory illness stations for assessing visitors at each facility entrance and monitoring of good infection control procedures during visits, along with monitoring visit duration.
"In maintaining a compassionate approach to visits to our residents, there are no restrictive times for visits."
A state government spokesperson said it was not specified how visitors would prove their flu immunisation but it would be 'reasonable' for facilities to document immunisation of their staff and ask the question of visitors.
They said the initial stricter regulations allowed facilities to have processes in place to safely manage visitors before falling into line with national recommendations on May 25.
"Aged care home can implement measures they believe are necessary, but it is expected they would do so in compliance with the Aged Care Visitor Access Code of Practice," they said.
"A draft of this code is currently being finalised after a period of consultation."
They said they expected symptom screening and infection control practices would in place across the sector for agency workers, who work across multiple homes.
Tasmanian aged care visitor restrictions from May 11:
- A person must have had an influenza vaccination to visit an aged care home
- Residents can have up to two people, including doctors, visit for a short time and no person under 16 years of age can attend a facility unless under special circumstances
- Residents can have visitors once a week
- Facilities must ensure visits occur in a resident's room, outdoor space or other specified location, not a communal area
From May 25: Aged care visits move to national restrictions of two visitors, once a day.
From July 13: Aged care homes allow five visitors and multiple visits a day.
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