Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Current activity restrictions were updated on 20th June, 2022
These details and further information about the current restrictions can be found here: Current Activity Restrictions | SA
SA Health restriction advice for ACCHS
As with other health care settings, masks must be worn at all times in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, by staff, visitors and patients.
Close contacts of COVID-19 are able to attend ACCHSs for medical care, although it is strongly recommended by SA Health that you let the service know beforehand that you are a close contact. If you personally don’t need medical help or supplies, you should not attend an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service for 7 days after you have been exposed.
People who test positive to COVID-19 should follow the SA Health guidelines, which includes isolating for 7 days.
After leaving isolation, on days 8-10 after testing positive, SA Health advise that you should wear a mask around other people and not attend settings where there is a risk of passing the virus to vulnerable people in places like hospitals, correctional services, Aged Care and Disability Care.
If you need to visit an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service on days 8-10 after testing positive, it is a good idea to check with the service first what their guidelines are.
There are no longer any density requirements in health services, but it is recommended that people maintain greater than 1.5metre distance apart where possible.
Check-in, such as via a QR code, are required for hospitals, disability care facilities and aged care facilities in South Australia.
See mandatory vaccine requirements for healthcare workers (below).
Travel restrictions
Please keep up to date with all of the latest information before travelling interstate which can be found here: Travel restrictions | Government of South Australia
Testing updates
In South Australia, if you test positive on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), in most cases you do not need to get a PCR test to confirm this result. You are considered to be a case of COVID 19. However, if you have had a positive RAT test and this was unexpected (that is, if you have no symptoms and are not a close contact), then it is still suggested that you get a PCR test to confirm the positive RAT result. You still need to remain isolated in this case while waiting for the PCR result.
SA Health is currently providing access to free RATs for concession card holders.
People who are eligible have to register at this link, and can pick up their tests from a RAT Collection Point.
You can find more information here.
Find out more about when you should use a RAT at the SA Health webpage here.
If you test positive for COVID-19 on a rapid antigen test, you are required to report it to SA Health within 24 hours
Lodging a positive COVID-19 test result from a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) can be done here.
If you don’t have a mobile phone with internet access, you can report your result by calling the SA COVID-19 Information Line on 1800 253 787.
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Advice for ACCHS staff
Healthcare Setting Workers Vaccination
This current direction is important and affects all workers in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in SA, Anyone who works within an ACCHS must make sure that they are following the most recent version, including with regard to booster and third doses.
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ACCHS staff who test positive for COVID-19 need to isolate for at least 7 days. They need to inform their close contacts, and should consider the need to inform their employer if they were at work during their infectious period. Employers may require additional protocols to be followed on returning to work to reduce the risk of spreading COVID
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For further information about pandemic and vaccination legislation in the state of South Australia and additional information from SA Health, access the Emergency Declaration Healthcare Setting Direction details here.