From today, Murrumbidgee Local Health District health workers will be wearing surgical masks if they are within 1.5m of patients.
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Patients in hospital and community health settings will also be required to wear a mask, where possible.
Carla Bailey, MLHD Incident Controller COVID-19 Health Emergency Operations Centre, said staff would wear masks as a precautionary measure as masks had proven effective in suppressing COVID-19 transmission.
"Please don't become alarmed when you see a health worker wearing a surgical mask," Ms Bailey said.
"This is an extra precaution we are taking in order to protect our staff and the broader community, on top of a range of other infection control measures."
Ms Bailey said significant long-term planning ensured that MLHD had an adequate supply of masks and staff had been trained in how to safely apply and remove masks.
While most cases have been linked to known clusters, community transmission continues and NSW Health is calling on people across the state to redouble their efforts to stop the virus spreading.
Key messages for the community are:
- . Avoid non-essential travel and gatherings. Of particular concern is transmission in venues such as hotels and restaurants, the gym and social gatherings.
- . Anyone feeling unwell - even with the mildest of symptoms such as a runny nose or scratchy throat - must seek testing and self-isolate until they get the result. Stay at home, and do not go to work or catch public transport until you are cleared of COVID-19
- . At all times stay 1.5 m from other people. Don't go anywhere there is crowding.
- . Clean your hands regularly with soap and running water for 20 seconds or use alcohol base hand rub.
- . Cough and sneeze into your elbow.
- . Don't host, or go to, a gathering of more than 10 people at home.
- . Don't go to the gym unless the equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after customer use by supervising staff or yourself, and there is good spacing between machines and customers.
- . Consider using a mask in situations where you are unable to social distance.
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