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The highly transmissible Omicron COVID-19 variant is particularly challenging for many organisations. We’re aware that services are being strained due to the higher case numbers. We recognise it’s difficult for some providers to find workers with the number of positive cases and staff in isolation as close contacts, and we know that some service providers have reported issues maintaining service delivery.
Review your COVID-19 management plan to help you manage the risks associated with the Omicron variant.
Here we have answers to some questions we’ve been asked recently. We’ll update this section regularly.
We’ll also be updating the COVID-19 guidelines for residential out-of-home care (OOHC) settings and COVID-19 guidelines for Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) shortly.
Existing advice for specific DCJ programs remains the same.
Current Public Health Orders and health advice
Summary of isolation and testing requirements as at 25 January 2022
Critical workers and isolation exemptions
Rapid antigen tests and PCR tests
Workforce issues and business continuity during Omicron
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Always check the NSW Health website and NSW Government COVID-19 website for up to date information:
We’ve heard that some people are finding the current testing and isolation requirements for workers confusing. Here’s a table with a summary of the current information. Always confirm the current isolation and testing requirements using the links above as these can change.
All workers who are required to self-isolate should refer to and follow the full NSW Health COVID-19 self-isolation guideline.
| Positive COVID-19 | Close contact of positive COVID-19 case | Close contact who tests positive following a RAT | Close contact who tests negative on a RAT but has symptoms of COVID-19 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical worker | Must self-isolate for 7 days. If a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath remain after 7 days, remain in isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. After leaving self-isolation, wear a mask when near to or talking to people and avoid visiting high risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care, correctional facilities) for a further 3 days. If you work in one of these settings, speak to employer before returning. There is no requirement in the Public Health Order or NSW Health’s guidance for workers to test, using either a RAT or PCR test, in order to leave isolation after 7 days |
If identified by employer as a critical worker and exempt from the 7 day isolation, can return to work, but must agree to: - Take regular RAT for 7 days from last contact with a COVID-19 case and notify employer of each result. - Wear a mask at all times in the workplace (unless eating or drinking or if the mask needs to be removed for safety reasons) - Travel directly to and from place of residence and their workplace and nowhere else. - Comply with risk management strategies put in place by employer. |
Must immediately self-isolate for 7 days If a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath remain after 7 days, remain in isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. After leaving self-isolation, wear a mask when near to or talking to people and avoid visiting high risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care, correctional facilities) for a further 3 days. If you work in one of these settings, speak to employer before returning. There is no requirement in the Public Health Order or NSW Health’s guidance for workers to test, using either a RAT or PCR test, in order to leave isolation after 7 days. |
Must immediately self-isolate and have a PCR test. Can return to work with evidence of a negative PCR test taken after the onset of symptoms. |
| Non critical worker | Must self-isolate for 7 days. If a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath remain after 7 days, remain in isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. After leaving self-isolation, wear a mask when near to or talking to people and avoid visiting high risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care, correctional facilities) for a further 3 days. If you work in one of these settings, speak to employer before returning. There is no requirement in the Public Health Order or NSW Health’s guidance for workers to test, using either a RAT or PCR test, in order to leave isolation after 7 days. |
Must self-isolate for 7 days. Take RAT as soon as possible and again on Day 6. Take additional RAT if symptoms develop. There is nothing in NSW Health’s guidance/PHO that requires a RAT or PCR in order to leave isolation after 7 days. Do not visit high-risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care, correctional facilities) for the next 7 days after leaving isolation. |
Must immediately self-isolate for 7 days. If a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath remain after 7 days, remain in isolation until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. After leaving self-isolation, wear a mask when near to or talking to people and avoid visiting high risk settings (healthcare, aged care, disability care, correctional facilities) for a further 3 days. If you work in one of these settings, speak to employer before returning. There is no requirement in the Public Health Order or NSW Health’s guidance for workers to test, using either a RAT or PCR test, in order to leave isolation after 7 days. |
Take additional RAT or PCR test if symptoms develop. |
NSW Health updated information on 25 January 2022 regarding contacts of people with COVID-19. A close contact is a household contact, or a person who spent a long time with someone who has COVID-19 or interacted closely with someone who has COVID-19 while not wearing masks. The NSW Health factsheet Information for people exposed to COVID-19 has information on how to assess the risks of a contact of someone with COVID-19 and what they need to do.
Some critical workers who are close contacts are now permitted to leave self-isolation to attend work, only if they have no COVID-19 symptoms. These changes are designed to help ease the pressure on workforces, which have been under strain from rising infections and close contacts in isolation.
From 14 January 2022, close contacts who are critical workers are exempt from the self-isolation requirements of the NSW Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 4). The following critical workers and activities may now be exempt from self-isolation requirements:
Public administration and safety |
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Health care and social assistance |
|
Employers may determine a worker is a critical worker if:
Exemption of critical workers from self-isolation is an option for service providers, not a requirement. You need to manage your COVID-19 risks and decide whether it’s appropriate for you to approve the critical worker’s attendance based on your risk assessments Close contact critical worker exemptions are subject to the following conditions:
Any close contact critical worker who tests positive on the regular RAT or who develops symptoms of COVID-19 must immediately self-isolate, following the self-isolation rules.
Yes, only if your organisation determines that the worker’s absence from the workplace poses a high risk of disruption to the delivery of the critical services that DCJ engages you to provide.
You need to review your COVID-19 management plan, as outlined in the COVID-19 management and vaccination policy.
If you have critical workers, you need to revisit your risk assessments, and consider if your organisation will adopt the isolation exemptions for your critical workers if they become close contacts.
Having critical workers who are close contacts return to the workplace from self-isolation may help prevent disruptions to critical service delivery. But it will increase risks, and you’ll need to consider what risk mitigation strategies you’ll implement.
The critical worker self-isolation exemption guidance sets out steps for employers to consider in managing these risks in the workplace. In summary this includes (but is not limited to):
Small to medium organisations can contact Justice Connect for more advice. Larger service providers may have their own legal services.
The NSW Health website has information on getting tested for COVID-19, and who should do a rapid antigen test (RAT) or PCR test.
The list of the approved RAT kits is on the TGA website. The website also has instructions on how to use each type of test.
We’re aware that access to RATs is an issue. DCJ is actively participating in the NSW Government response. At this time, NSW Health is making RATs available for some vulnerable clients and DCJ is working with NSW Health on this.
In the meantime, you can use your DCJ funding to purchase PPE and other risk control supplies, and follow your COVID-19 management plan.
As RATs become more readily available, you can consider incorporating regular testing programs into your service operations.
You can use DCJ funds, including COVID-19 grant funding that has been distributed throughout the pandemic, to purchase RATs.
If you’re having to spend large amounts of money on RATs to maintain service delivery, or the cost is impacting your operations, talk to your contract manager.
Talk to your contract manager. We recognise that some service providers may have issues, and we want to work with you.
We’re aware that access to RATs is an issue, and we’re working with NSW Health. You can use DCJ funding to purchase RATs, but if you can’t find RATs in stock you won’t be able to roster that staff member on for a shift.
No. You can ask clients to undertake a RAT before they access a service, but you can’t make it mandatory.
You provide services to some of the most vulnerable people in our community. DCJ expects that service delivery will continue and that the risks can be managed by putting appropriate control measures in place as set out in your COVID-19 management plan.
For example, this may include:
See also the questions: If a client refuses to undertake a RAT, can we refuse service? and If a client tests positive to COVID-19, can we refuse service? in this FAQ for more advice.
You need to consider what you’ll do if a client refuses to undertake a RAT before they access a service for each of your service settings in your risk assessments, and include strategies to manage it in your COVID-19 management plan.
After completing your risk assessments, you may decide to treat clients who refuse to undertake a RAT as though they’ve tested positive to COVID-19. See the question: How do we keep our workers safe if they’re supporting people with COVID-19? in this FAQ for more advice.
Small to medium organisations can contact Justice Connect for more advice. Larger service providers may have their own legal services.
We recognise how challenging it is for some providers to find enough staff in the current environment, particularly when we have to keep providing supports to vulnerable people. Unfortunately everyone is in the same situation.
You should revisit your business continuity plan. You can look at reorganising your work priorities or work functions. Some of you may even be able to share workers with other service providers.
You can consider:
There’s information on surge staffing in the COVID-19 guidelines for residential out-of-home care (OOHC) settings and COVID-19 guidelines for Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS)
If you’re in the position where you need to cease some aspect of your services, it’s likely to be short term only. We’ll be flexible with you. Let us know and if there’s something we can do to support you we’re happy to help.
As part of your risk assessment and COVID-19 management plan, consider how and when you need to use PPE and ensure you maintain adequate supplies.
You can use DCJ funds, including COVID-19 grant funding, to purchase PPE.
You can purchase PPE through various suppliers in the market, and the NSW Government has a list of suppliers of PPE for industry and the community during the pandemic.
You may also be able to get PPE from Resilience NSW. Contact your local Council and speak to your Local Emergency Management Controller.
If you’re having issues purchasing PPE, please contact your contract manager.
You would already have considered this as part of your risk assessment and COVID-19 management plan. You can revisit this with the review of your plan, and consider how and when you need to use PPE in the current Omicron environment.
The DCJ PPE matrix helps you to identify appropriate PPE for different situations.
This video by the Clinical Excellence Commission demonstrates how to put on and take off PPE.
25 Mar 2024