1.3 GUIDELINES
1.4 Physical Distancing
Maximum occupancy
- Max capacity per sqm or if allowed per allocated space, i.e. 100max / 25 per allocated space
Managing guests entering venue
- Queues to be avoided if possible, if not provide floor markings of 1.5m apart. Procedure to be put in place to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to.
- Suggested signage to include:
- If ill do not enter premises/ stay home
- Practice social distancing
Managing people at tables
- Min. 1.5m per table
- Table size to accommodate social distancing, e.g. table of 8 reduce to table of 5-6
Managing shared space
- Where points of congregation or potential congestion, i.e. walkways, bathrooms, buffets, points of entry and exit, to consider:
- Signage/ barriers to control/ manage flow of traffic
- Implement one-way traffic flow, i.e. dedicated entry/ exit points
- Reconfigure event layout and furniture layout to encourage social distancing
- Minimise registration queues
Managing interaction between staff/ committee members and attendees
- Adhere to social distancing requirements
- Staff to follow good hygiene practices
Physical distancing between staff/ committee members
- Ensure staff stay at home if unwell
- Shift management to reduce interaction between staff, if applicable create small teams to work separately
- Social distancing during breaks (if applicable)
- During work-related events and outside of work staff to remain vigilant about social distancing and good hygiene practices.
1.5 Hygiene
Entrance to the venue
- Hand sanitiser to be available to all attendees on entry to the event
- One-way traffic to avoid congestion
Increase cleaning and sanitation regime
- Ensure thorough and regular cleaning of high traffic/ touch points areas.
- Increase cleaning regime
- Use approved chemicals for cleaning
- Venue to provided Safety Plan including cleaning regime
Payment for event
- No- cash handling
- All event bookings to be done online via registration page
Personal Protective Equipment
- Good hygiene practices, sanitation and social distancing are more effective than PPE. There is no need to wear gloves or masks for normal interaction (depending on state requirements)
1.6 Training and Education
- Need to regularly communicate restrictions, policies and procedures.
- Specific training has been developed for the various sectors (state-based)
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/covid-19-infection-control-training
1.7 Compliance with existing legislation and regulations
- In addition to the legal obligations arising from the Emergency Management Act 2005 and the Directions made under that Act, businesses will continue to have obligations under existing legislation and regulations, including Worksafe legislation
1.8 Response Planning
- The following measures are important to minimise risk and manage the response if someone with COVID-19 attends an event. All advice and instructions must be followed in the event of a confirmed case.
Maintain attendance records
- If applicable per state, attendance records to be maintained per event, this will assist Public Health with contact tracing if confirmed case of COVID-19.
- Records can be hard copy, i.e. secure sign-in register – managed by staff or electronic, must include name and contact information (phone number/ email address) per person
- Short term visitors not required to sign in.
- Records may not be used for any other purpose other than contact tracing. FMA’s Privacy policy to be implemented in obtaining these records
Responding to a COVID-19 incident
If you are aware of someone getting tested, showing symptoms, been in close contact with or has a confirmed case of COVID-19, that is in attendance or been at an event and you have reasonable concerns about their health and the health of others:
- Call COVID-19 Public Hotline and follow the advice of the health officials
- Keep others away from infected person
- If person has serious symptoms, i.e. difficulty breathing call 000 for urgent medical attention.
- Otherwise take steps to prevent further infection by keeping others away from infected person, measures must be reasonable.
- Seek advice and assess the risk
- To determine if it is reasonable to suspect someone may nave COVID-19, talk to the person and seek government health advice.
- Transport
- Ensure the person has safe transport home or to a location where they can isolate or medical facility if necessary
- Clean & disinfect
- Follow public health advice about closing off affected areas and prevent access until cleaned and disinfected.
- Open windows and doors if possible, to allow the flow of air.
- Assisting Public Health to identify close contacts
- Notify the Public Health unit – COVID-19 Public Hotline 24/7 -1800 020 080 (National)
- The state Public Health unit may require the attendance records to identify close contact tracing.
- Review risk assessment
- An appropriate prevention and control strategy to be developed for events in consultation with all involved to ensure all are aware of and follow strategies.
- Regular review of COVID-19 risk management controls in consultation with all involved, i.e. staff, sub-committee to update/ change controls if required.
1.9 Further information Advice from Australian Government Department of Health
The Australian Government Department of Health has also produced an Australian Health Sector Emergency Response Plan for Novel Coronavirus (the COVID-19 Plan) External link, which provides an overview of the national approach and an operational plan.