COVID-19 Updates

At ABC Multilingua we have are taking a proactive approach to COVID 19, we monitor all our contractors Covid 19 and Vaccination status’. We keep record of Vaccination certificates on file that can be provided upon request.

We keep up to date with vaccination requirements as provided by SA Health as well as by each of our valued customers and ensure all bookings are filled as per these requirements but can also provide vaccinated interpreters at the customer or clients request where preferred but not mandated.

Latest COVID 19 Direction from SA HEALTH - HEALTH CARE (last updated 24/02/22)

This Direction applies to all persons engaging in work or duties in one of the above settings, including clinicians, ambulance workers, allied health workers, cleaners, administrative and executive staff and students undertaking placement regardless of whether they work in a patient or a non-patient area. It also includes volunteers and contractors.

The purpose of this direction is to:

• maintain the provision of healthcare services operating in the State of South Australia despite the presence of COVID-19 in the community;
• minimise the disruption to those services due to the spread of COVID-19 amongst healthcare setting workers;
• minimise the disruption to those services due to workers being furloughed following possible exposure to COVID-19; and
• reduce the risk of the spread of COVID-19 by healthcare setting workers to patients.

A person must not engage in work or perform duties in a healthcare setting from the 6^th of December 2021 unless—

(a) the person has received at least one dose of a Therapeutic Goods Administration TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine; and

(b) the person has received, or has evidence of a booking to receive, a second dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine within the interval after the first dose recommended by the ATAGI for that COVID-19 vaccine; and

(c) within the prescribed time, the person receives, or has evidence of a booking to receive, a third dose (booster) of a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine.

A person subject to the requirement must provide the operator of the healthcare setting with proof of their vaccination status and evidence of the applicable prescribed time for receiving a booster dose upon request.

A person may engage in work or perform duties at a healthcare setting if—

(a) the person has a medical certificate or letter from a legally qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person—

(i) has a medical exemption from receiving a TGA approved COVID-19 vaccine on either a permanent or temporary basis in accordance with the guidelines published from time to time by ATAGI; or

(ii) has a medical exemption on either a permanent or temporary basis from receiving the preferred vaccine as recommended by ATAGI for the person’s age; or

(iii) has an appointment to be assessed by a medical specialist or has commenced an assessment with a medical specialist to determine whether they have a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on either a permanent or temporary basis in accordance with the guidelines published from time to time by ATAGI; and

(iv) the certificate or letter specifies the nature of the exemption and the basis on which it applies; and

(v) the Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate has endorsed the exemption; and

(vi) the person provides the operator of the healthcare setting with a copy of the endorsement provided under paragraph (v).

healthcare setting means—

• A public hospital or private hospital.
• An ambulance service (including an ambulance service for transporting patients);
• Primary community healthcare facilities; general practice clinics, dental clinics, private nurse offices
• - Pharmacies;
• Specialist outpatient facilities; art or music therapy, audiology, dental therapy, epidemiology, exercise physiology, genetic counselling, nuclear medicine technology, nutrition and dietetics, occupational therapy, optometry, orthoptics, orthotics and prosthetics, perfusion, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology, radiation therapy, radiography, social work provided at a public or private hospital or primary community healthcare facility, sonography; speech pathology
• Private pathology centres;

• Private radiology centres (including breast screening centre);
• Defence health settings (including Garrison health centres, deployed and exercise health support and clinical health training);
• Facilities for the collection, manufacture and distribution of blood and biological products;
• - Aboriginal community controlled health services;
• Any location where the Department for Health and Wellbeing, the Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health and Wellbeing SA carries out any business or undertaking;
• - Chiropractic therapy;
• - Osteopathy;
• Perfusion;
• Physiotherapy;
• Podiatry;
• Psychology;
• Radiation therapy;
• Radiography;
• Social work provided at a public or private hospital or primary community healthcare facility;
• Sonography;
• Speech pathology;

For the latest information, the Direction and FAQs please visit covid-19.sa.gov.au.

Please find below the latest COVID-19 Update from SA Health regarding mask advice in South Australia.

Latest COVID 19 MASK ADVICE - (last updated 11/07/22)

Mask advice

In South Australia, it is still mandatory to wear a mask in:

• passenger transport (public transport, taxis, rideshare)

• hospitals and health care

• pharmacies

• aged care facilities

• disability care facilities.

Close contacts must also wear a mask when they leave the house for 7 days after their exposure.

Masks are recommended when you are in indoor public places, especially when you can’t keep 1.5 metres distance from other people:

• shopping centres and retail

• workplaces

• entertainment venues (e.g. libraries, cinema, theatre, live music)

• sporting events

• bars and restaurants (when not eating or drinking)

• community centres and libraries.

Face masks are important to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses like the flu.

Children under 12 years of age do not need to wear a mask.

SA Health: mask resources to download and share

Visit www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidmasks to learn more about masks and to find resources such as translated social media graphics and posters.

Department of Health and Aged Care: translated mask resources

The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care also has translated fact sheets about when to wear a mask and how to use a mask properly.

Latest COVID 19 Direction from SA HEALTH – EDUCATION (last updated 24/02/22)

Vaccination requirements

The Education and Early Childhood Settings Vaccination Direction is in effect.

By 11 December 2021 people working in the following education and early childhood settings will be required to have received at least one dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine:

• All government or non-government schools including:

• Primary education, secondary education or both,

• Kindergarten,

• Early learning centre,

• Preschool or

• Boarding house.

• Long day care services,

• Family day care services,

• Outside school hours services and

• Preschool programs including those delivered in schools, unless expressly excluded.

• Any location where any early childhood service is defined in section 4 of the Education and Early Childhood Services (Registration and Standards) Act 2011 is provided, other than in-home care services – for example tutors.

• Any location where any early education and care service, funded by the Commonwealth Government through the former Budget Based Funding Program is provided.

This direction applies to all people who attend an education and early childhood setting in the course of their work or duties, in a full time, part time, contract, casual or voluntary basis, even if their attendance is incidental or occasional.

Note: If a childcare centre on the grounds of a university only those working in the childcare centre must be vaccinated.

Where an education and early childhood setting is located within residential premises, this direction only applies to persons providing an education and care service, not everyone living there.

By 11 December all education and early childhood workers must have:

• Received at least one dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccination,

• Received, or have evidence of a booking to receive, a second dose of a TGA approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine within the interval after the first dose recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) for that COVID-19 vaccine.

• Provided the operator of the education or early childhood setting with proof of their vaccination status upon request.

An education and early childhood worker is not required to have evidence of a COVID-19 vaccination if:

• They have a medical certificate or a letter from a legally qualified medical practitioner certifying that the person:

• Has a medical exemption from receiving a COVID-19 vaccine on either a permanent or temporary basis in accordance with guidelines published by ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation).

• Has a medical exemption on either a permanent or temporary basis from receiving the preferred vaccine as recommended by ATAGI for the person’s age.

• Has an appointment to be assessed by a medical specialist or has started an assessment to determine if they have a medical exemption

• Is currently taking part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial and the receipt of another available vaccine would impact the validity of the trial.

• The certificate or letter specifies the nature of the exemption and the basis on which it applies;

• The Chief Public Health Officer or her delegate has endorsed the exemption, and

• The person must provide the operator of the education or childcare setting with a copy of the endorsement.

• The person is responding to a non-medical emergency or urgent maintenance task.

• The person is delivering goods to or removing items (including rubbish) from the education or early childhood setting.

The operator of an education and early childhood setting must ensure people engaging in work on their site complies with their COVID Safe Plan for the education and early childhood setting. If a person is delivering goods or removing items they must wear a mask while on site.

The Department for Education website contains Frequently Asked Questions in relation to this Direction.

Latest COVID 19 Direction from Courts Administration Authority (last updated 24/02/22)

These restrictions apply to the following:

• - Supreme court
• - District court
• - ERD court
• - Magistrates court
• - Youth court
• - Coroners court
• - Wardens court

A statement from the State Courts Administrator, Ms Penny Croser

“On Tuesday, 11 January 2022, I advised all Courts Administration Authority (CAA) staff of the final CAA COVID-19 Vaccination Policy.

This follows a risk-assessment and consultation on the introduction of a policy of mandatory COVID vaccination for CAA employees.

Under the policy all staff are required, subject to limited exemptions, to be fully vaccinated (two doses) by 14 February 2022.

The Courts are an essential service in our community that have continued to operate throughout the pandemic. We continue to see the number of COVID cases rising. It is critical that we protect judiciary and staff and particularly court users, some of whom are the most vulnerable in our community. Our staff have a high degree of contact with court users, and it is imperative that we mitigate the risk of moving infection into correctional services, youth justice settings, and into the community.

Whilst this policy only applies to CAA staff, the CAA has strict COVID-safe practices that apply to court users such as wearing a mask in all court buildings, using QR codes at point-of-entry and in individual courtrooms, and practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene.”

COVID Safe Restrictions on entry to all Court Buildings

• You should not enter Court buildings unless you have business in the Court.

• You should not come to Court if you are:
  • required to isolate or quarantine by SA Health directions,
  • been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting results, or
  • if you are experiencing symptoms – a fever or chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath or loss of taste and smell (with no alternative illness that explains these symptoms).

• If you do not intend to appear because you honestly and reasonably believe you should self-isolate, you should Contact CourtSA by email enquiry@courts.sa.gov.au or phone 8204 2444 to advise the Court. Obtain a certificate from your doctor. If you are represented, tell your lawyer.

• All people entering court buildings must wear a mask unless you have a medical exemption which must be shown at point-of-entry to court buildings. Masks may only be removed in a courtroom with permission of the judicial officer.

• Please ensure masks are worn correctly, covering the nose and chin and changed/cleaned frequently.