COVID-19 precautionary measures for Bramblewood and Queens Park Retirement Villages

Published: 21 December 2020

The New South Wales government has announced COVID-19 restrictions for Greater Sydney, the Central Coast and Wollongong from midnight Sunday 20 December until midnight on Wednesday 23 December,

The New South Wales Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, says this is necessary to protect the people of NSW from the evolving Avalon (Northern Beaches) outbreak.

What are the restrictions?

From midnight yesterday (Sunday 20 December), the following applies in Greater Sydney:

Household gatherings are limited to 10 visitors.
The one person per four square metre rule has been re-introduced for all indoor settings including hospitality venues and places of worship.
No singing, chanting or dancing.

Additionally, the Northern Beaches LGA is in lockdown until midnight on Wednesday 23 December. People can only leave their homes or visit the Northern Beaches LGA if it is essential:

Shopping or food or other essential goods and services.
Medical care or compassionate needs.
In an emergency.

The NSW Police is enforcing these restrictions and penalties apply.

The government is also strongly recommending people in NSW wear masks at all times when in indoors public areas and in setting where they can’t physically distance. This includes shopping centres, supermarkets and shops; public transport, healthcare facilities and aged care facilities.

What does this mean for Bramblewood and Queens Park retirement communities?

We acknowledge that these restrictions are incredibly hard, especially given the time of year and that many of you will have plans to spend time with family and friends. However, given the elevated risk, it is important that we all do the right thing and work together to keep our communities safe.

RetireAustralia will keep the following precautionary measures in place:

Village checkpoints.
Only essential visits will be accepted into the village:
- To deliver personal care, medication, food and groceries.
- For compassionate reasons.
- No children under 16
There will be no community activities until the New Year.
Staff and essential workers will wear masks when delivering services to residents and when physical distancing cannot be maintained.
Visitors will be requested to wear masks too.

In the short term, we urge you take the following precautions:

Travelling to and receiving visitors from high risk COVID-19 areas:
- Check the COVID-19 noticeboard for the latest updates on COVID-19 hotspots and high risk areas.
- If you have recently visited a high risk area (as defined by the NSW Government), please self-isolate and follow government advice.
- Visitors from the Northern Beaches must not visit the village please.
- We recommend that visitors from emerging high risk areas including Greater Sydney, Wollongong and the Central Coast do not visit the village.
- We strongly recommend that you avoid travelling to any high risk areas.
Stay at home as much as possible and limit travel and visits to what is essential. e.g. personal/ home care, to get food, groceries, medication and to go to important healthcare appointments.
Remind your family and friends that they should only visit you if it is essential.
Please ensure your visitors do not access any community areas or shared village facilities.
If you do go out, practice social distancing and good hand hygiene and strongly consider wearing a mask.
Keep track of your visitors and the places you visit.
If you have even the mildest COVID-19 symptoms please tested and let your Village Manager know.

We are here to help

If you have any questions or concerns, please call your Village Manager directly.

In particular, if you are unclear of the restrictions or need help accessing groceries, medication, healthcare appointments or masks, please call.

Thank you so much for your cooperation and support. We understand that the timing of these restrictions will be hard for many residents as we head into the Christmas holidays.

We are monitoring this closely and will provide further updates as the situation evolves.

Take care and stay safe.