19 March 2020

COVID-19: Protecting your safety at IVFAustralia

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IVF Australia

What are we doing to protect your safety when you visit IVFAustralia?

We are asking anyone who falls into the following categories, not to come into the clinic and seek further medical advice. If in doubt, please talk to our staff. We are here to help.

  • Active flu like symptoms
  • Recent direct contact with proven COVID-19 case
  • Recent return from overseas travel within the past two weeks must self isolate for 14 days

We’re ensuring our teams maintain high hygiene standards, following all infection control protocols including: hand sanitisation before and after contact with our patients; following cough etiquette by maintaining the 1.5 metre rule of distance, except when carrying out an essential medical procedure (such as taking blood); and washing down all surfaces between patients with disinfectants.

Our staff will be avoiding direct physical contact with patients such as handshakes.  We do appreciate how hard this is, not to be able to have the warmth of physical support when you are going through the emotional journey of IVF but it is important for your safety.

For safety reasons, we have closed our breakfast bar and withdrawn the magazines from our waiting rooms. If any patient or visitor presents as unwell, with fever, or with flu-like symptoms, they will be provided with a face mask, hand sanitiser and moved away from other patients.

We request that only patients enter our facilities. To minimise risk to other patients and staff, if you are being accompanied by or picked up by one adult, we ask that they wait for you outside. We appreciate everyone’s understanding for these precautionary measures we are taking.

We are here to support you during your fertility care. Please continue to visit our website for the most up to date advice before you attend the clinic.

Facts and tips about COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus. Symptoms range from a mild cough to pneumonia. Some people recover easily, others may get very sick very quickly. There is evidence that it spreads from person to person. Good hygiene can prevent infection.

Symptoms of coronavirus

It can take up to 14 days for symptoms of coronavirus to appear.

The symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a fever (temperature above normal); cough; shortness of breath; breathing difficulties.
  • If you have these symptoms; or have travelled overseas in the last 2 weeks and/or been in contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 2 weeks or is suspected of having COVID -19 you may be at risk.

Here are some steps to protect yourself from COVID-19

Clean your hands regularly

  • after coughing or sneezing
  • after toilet use
  • before eating
  • before and after preparing food
  • if you are in contact with a sick person, especially those with respiratory symptoms
  • if your hands are dirty

Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and dispose of the tissue appropriately and wash your hands.

  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Importantly – stay at home if you’re feeling unwell and call the clinic.

Avoid:

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.
  • Avoid shaking hands, hugging or kissing upon greeting colleagues, friends or family.

Anyone who knows they have been in close contact with a confirmed case in the last 14 days and has symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fever) should:

  • isolate themselves from other people - this means going into a different, well-ventilated room, with a phone,
  • call their GP, or emergency department.

Close contact is defined as requiring:

  • greater than 15 minutes face-to-face contact in any setting with a confirmed case in the period extending from 24 hours before onset of symptoms in the confirmed case, or
  • sharing of a closed space with a confirmed case for a prolonged period (e.g. more than 2 hours) in the period extending from 24 hours before onset of symptoms in the confirmed case.

Read a step-by-step guide on cough etiquette and how to properly wash your hands and avoid infection.

When you may need to be tested for coronavirus

If your doctor thinks that you need a test for coronavirus, they will tell you where the test will be done. They will also tell you when to expect your results.

How coronavirus is spread?

Coronavirus is spread in sneeze or cough droplets. You could get the virus if you:

  • come into close contact with someone who has the virus and is coughing or sneezing;
  • touch surfaces that someone who has the virus has coughed or sneezed on;
  • emerging evidence of faecal-oral transmission of the virus suggests everyone should close toilet seats before flushing.

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