Find out the most up to date info on coronavirus
For up-to-date information on the number of cases and geographical locations visit the World Health Organisation and the John Hopkins University online tracking dashboard page.
Country SA PHN will continue to work with the Commonwealth Department of Health and SA Health to relay relevant information to primary health care providers and provide support as required.
Delivering high quality care and safety to patients
Country SA PHN will continue to work with the Commonwealth Department of Health and SA Health to relay relevant information to primary health care providers and provide support as required.
COVID-19 Vaccination update - Announcement from the Prime Minister, roll out of COVID-19 vaccine to commence February 2021. The COVID-19 National vaccination strategy can be found here
New COVID-19 public exposure locations have been identified in Victoria and New South Wales. Please continue to monitor the SA Health website for the latest information and advice at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidcontacttracing.
Commonwealth funded respiratory clinics, supported by
Country SA PHN, have been established at six sites across country SA.
The Australian Government has established GP Led Respiratory Clinics around the country to support the assessment, testing and diagnosis of community members experiencing mild to moderate respiratory symptoms. Commonwealth funded respiratory clinics, supported by CSAPHN, are being established at six sites across country SA.
Find out below if there is a GP respiratory clinic in your region and how to book an appointment.
Respiratory Clinic
COVID-19 vaccines rollout to
priority groups
The Australian Government is expecting approval of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines by the end of this month, with a rollout to priority groups beginning mid-February. In addition to being able to administer the vaccine when available, healthcare professionals will also be able to receive the vaccine in the following rollout phases:
Phase 1a
Phase 1b
On Monday, 25 January the Government announced provisional approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia for people 16 years of age and over. Two doses will be required, administered at least 21 days apart.
The Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be used initially during the Phase 1a rollout. These vaccine doses will be distributed through 30 to 50 key hospital hubs across urban and rural Australia to priority group 1a.
On Tuesday, 16 February the Government announced provisional approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia for people 18 years and older. Two doses will be required, administered from 4 to 12 weeks apart.
Both vaccines will progressively be distributed through an expanded number of sites, including general practice clinics, existing Commonwealth GP respiratory clinics, state-run vaccination clinics and pharmacies.
Distribution to residential aged care and disability care facilities will be done through a Commonwealth vaccination workforce in-reach program.
COVID-19 vaccines will be free for everyone living in Australia and the Government has made it clear that COVID-19 vaccination will be voluntary – but it is strongly encouraged. More information about training for health professionals will be available in the coming weeks that will cover vaccine specific information, multi-dose vials, infection control, wastage, and adverse event reporting.
More information about the approved COVID-19 vaccine approach is outlined in:
The Department of Health developed a new vaccine website this website is regularly being updated with more information as it becomes available. Information will also be available in 63 languages.
Subscribe to the COVID-19 vaccines updates to ensure you receive the latest updates available on the website.
The Australian Government has appointed Aspen Medical, Healthcare Australia, International SOS, and Sonic Clinical Services to supplement the existing immunisation workforce for Phase 1a rollout as required. This surge workforce will help provide immunisations.
The Australian College of Nursing has been appointed to lead the development of the mandatory training materials for COVID-19 immunisation providers. Healthcare professionals will not be able to administer any COVID-19 vaccines without having first completed the training modules.
The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination. But at this time AHPPC does not recommend mandating COVID-19 vaccination for the aged care workforce at this stage. For more information on the AHPPC decision visit the Department of Health website.
Supporting your practice
With the emergence of COVID-19 across many countries, there is a global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical masks and P2/N95 respirators.
As a first step in releasing PPE from the National Medical Stockpile, the Australian Government has provided a limited supply of surgical masks and P2/N95 respirators for general practices (including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services) and community pharmacies with a demonstrated need.
Surgical masks supplied in tranche are intended to be provided to general practices and, when no local commercial supply is available, allied health and community pharmacies:
There is no need for the general public or health workers to wear masks unless they are dealing with symptomatic patients. Further guidance on the use of surgical masks can be found at: Department of Health information on the use of surgical masks
With the emergence of COVID-19 across many countries, there is a global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including surgical masks and P2/N95 respirators. As a first step in releasing PPE from the National Medical Stockpile, the Australian Government has provided a limited supply of surgical masks and P2/N95 respirators for general practices (including Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services) and community pharmacies with a demonstrated need.
See the Department of Health Guideline for Distribution of PPE through PHNs for full details.
Any queries regarding masks are to be directed to:
Country SA PHN general practices, pharmacies and allied health practices can request masks by completing the Surgical Mask Request Form.
As there is a limited supply, a default allocation of 50 masks will be sent per request. If a larger allocation is required, please provide additional information to support the request in the comments section of the form.
Complete the form here
Australian Government - Department of Health
SA Health
SA Pathology
SA Pathology
Doctors Health SA
RACGP
The Pharmacy Guild of Australia
HealthPathways SA
HealthDirect
Surgical masks supplied in tranche are intended to be provided to general practices and, when no local commercial supply is available, allied health and community pharmacies:
There is no need for the general public or health workers to wear masks unless they are dealing with symptomatic patients. Further guidance on the use of surgical masks can be found at: Department of Health information on the use of surgical masks
PHNs have been given the role of distributing surgical masks
Community pharmacies are eligible to access the supply for the use of their staff when there is no available commercial supply and they have significant contact with people presenting with fever or respiratory symptoms. Masks distributed through PHNs cannot be sold as commercial stock.
Anecdotal reports have suggested that NMS stock is being sold. If CSAPHN is aware that anyone is selling NMS stocks, provision of masks to this pharmacy will be ceased and cost recovery sought.
Allied health professionals are now eligible for limited access to the supply of surgical masks for the use of their staff when there is no available commercial supply and they are working in higher-risk clinical areas, and with higher risk vulnerable patients.
Given the diverse nature of the allied health sector, when determining whether allocation of masks is appropriate, PHNs have been asked to consider:
There remains an assumption that allied health professions will, where possible, not see patients with respiratory symptoms or at a higher risk of COVID-19 unless required to as part of their core business (for example: an optometrist can defer seeing a patient with respiratory symptoms until that person is well).
Detmold have been in contact with Country SA PHN today and confirmed they can support the health care industry seeking to purchase locally manufactured surgical masks with discount codes to reduce the cost per unit.
Visit the Detmold website and use the discount codes to purchase your mask.
Safe specimen collection in general practice
As part of the continued response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Department of Health supplied PHNs with a very small allocation of P2/N95 respirators.
For routine primary care procedures, including specimen collection, surgical masks are considered to be effective when specimen collection is undertaken they should be worn with other PPE as appropriate (gown, gloves and eye protection). P2/N95 respirators are only required for aerosol generating procedures or where there is uncontrolled coughing.
See the relevant factsheet. If GPs are unable to undertake appropriate contact and droplet precautions for clinical assessment and specimen collection from patients with suspected COVID-19 through lack of appropriate PPE, they should refer cases to appropriate collection centres or Emergency Departments. See SA Health: Information for health professionals for more information.
Distribution of P2/N95 respirators is limited to general practices, including ACCHOs, who need to assess suspected COVID-19 cases because of the unavailability of nearby dedicated respiratory clinics or Emergency Departments.
Such practices need to have isolation facilities and other appropriate infrastructure, staff competent in use of PPE, and a pandemic plan. P2/N95 respirators should only be used with other PPE (gowns, gloves and eye protection).
Need support? Contact our Support Team
Support for Nurses
Enhance contact tracing and keep our community COVID safe
The South Australian Government is introducing COVID SAfe Check-In, to enhance contact tracing and keep our community COVID safe. If someone in South Australia tests positive to COVID-19, the COVID SAfe Check-In enables SA Health to quickly contact others who may have been exposed to the virus and stop the spread of COVID-19.
COVID SAfe Check-In is a new feature that has been added to the free mySA GOV app. Download the app from Google Play or the App Store.
If you already have the mySA GOV app, make sure you have the latest version, which may require you to download the app update.
Businesses with a COVID Safe Plan will receive a new COVID Safe Plan via email that includes a poster with a unique QR code. This should be printed and displayed in a prominent location within the business.
Improve the quality of healthcare delivered to practice patients
The new COVIDSafe app is completely voluntary. Downloading the app is something you can do to protect you, your family and friends and save the lives of other Australians. The more Australians connect to the COVIDSafe app, the quicker we can find the virus. Download from Apple Store or Google Play.
Supporting practices with the implementation of telehealth
CSAPHN are providing access to two telehealth platforms:
CSAPHN can provide support with registration, implementation and training.
Need support? Contact our Support Team
World-first 'living guidelines' for Australian healthcare professionals caring for people with COVID-19 have been launched by the National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce.
To report a suspected breach of quarantine or isolation orders, community are directed to contact:
A COVID-19 Gateway, linking to relevant information on State and Federal government websites, has been established: https://www.sa.gov.au/covid-19
Please see our helpful resources below. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to support@countrysaphn.com.au.
Provides information and advice on coronavirus (COVID-19) from an Australia wide perspective.
Offers local information and advice on general COVID-19 information for South Australians. Operates from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm every day.
Provides information on immunisations from medical officers.
Provides assistance with such things as personal hardship support, accommodation support for people unable to achieve self-quarantining and accommodation for emergency services.
Find information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during this time.
This service will be available from 5:00pm to 11:30pm, 7 days per week.
Virtual Support Network is a network of specialist services based locally in South Australia.
Check eligibility and apply for a Household Relief Loan Without Interest
Available Monday to Friday, except public holidays, from 8.30am to 6.00pm (AEST).
Coronavirus (COVID-19) mental health to support the community during this period. Life in Mind at Everymind has worked with the suicide prevention and mental health sectors.
12 month trial of a 24/7 support line has been established to provide assistance to GPs, palliative care teams, and medical and nursing staff.
Provides specialised advice regarding the care of a person with disability diagnosed with COVID-19 or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Offers a free and anonymous telephone service that provides senior Australians with the opportunity to chat with a volunteer. The services is available 24/7 between 10.00am and 8.00pm.
For mental health support by phone and video in relation to COVID-19, contact the SA COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line by calling 1800 632 753, available 8.00am to 8.00pm, 7 days a week.