Information for staff

Our staff furlough plan outlines what healthcare staff need to do if they receive a positive COVID test or are deemed a close contact.

The information in the table below provides details of the requirements for testing and isolation depending on an individual's exposure risk, including staff who are deemed a close contact of someone that tests positive for COVID-19.

Staff furlough table

See table above or click on the link below to download an updated table.

Download the staff furlough and return to work table.

Revised definition of close contact: All staff who meet the close contact definition and ≥28 days have passed after release from isolation following a recent COVID-19 infection.

In accordance with SA Health's definition of a close contact, a risk assessment1 for a workplace COVID-19 exposure should be undertaken for all hospital healthcare workers when:

1. Exposure within 1.5 metres for more than 4 hours cumulative2 except when healthcare worker is correctly wearing a surgical mask/appropriately fitted N95 respirator mask.
2. Healthcare workers involved in AGPs without wearing appropriately fitted N95 respirator mask and eye protection.

What if I am a close contact and am unwell?

If you are a close contact and unable to attend the workplace, and have NOT tested positive to COVID-19, you will need to access your sick leave.

Criteria for return to work following a positive COVID test:

• Asymptomatic COVID-19 staff: You can return to work on day 5.

• Symptomatic COVID-19 staff: If you do still have symptoms at day 5, you need to remain away from the workplace until your acute symptoms have resolved for at least 24 hours.

• Symptomatic but no resolution of symptoms: If you are not getting better or have concerns, contact your GP

• Immunocompromised staff will need to be discussed with the Infectious Diseases Team during business hours, prior to return.

If staff are critical to healthcare service delivery and need to return to work early, they can return to work if asymptomatic and have a negative RAT provided, they undertake strict risk mitigation and obtain approval from one of the below -

• Medical Head of Unit (or equivalent such as Senior Staff Specialist)
• Nurse Unit Manager or Nurse Manager
• Allied Health Discipline Manager
• Senior Business Consultant, after seeking advice from a senior clinical team member of their program
• Service manager of non-clinical services.

If you test positive but are asymptomatic, you can work from home, and have the relevant approval, please do so. Please complete the work from home online form for your line manager's approval.

Guidelines for staff who are close contacts with no symptoms

When can I return to work if I'm a close contact?

If staff are critical to healthcare service delivery, staff can return to work if asymptomatic and have a negative RAT, provided they undertake strict risk mitigation including wearing an N95 mask.

To ensure risks are mitigated, please have a discussion with the staff member about their personal risk of COVID transmission and review risks as laid out in the above table.

If at any point symptoms develop, please get a PCR test.

If it's not essential for you to be on site and you can work from home, and have the relevant approval, please do so. Please complete the work from home online form for your line manager's approval.

Who can grant staff permission to return to work?

The following managers can determine whether staff are able to return to work:

• Medical Head of Unit (or equivalent such as Senior Staff Specialist)
• Nurse Unit Manager or Nurse Manager
• Allied Health Discipline Manager
• Senior Business Consultant, after seeking advice from a senior clinical team member of their program
• Service manager of non-clinical services, after seeking advice from CWHS.

Advice for managers in assessing whether a staff member can return to work

Following the day one negative RAT result:

• Explore work from home options including reallocation of duties or functions across team members to maximise effort and mitigate loss of critical business functions
• If work from home is not possible due to role:
  • assess the impact of staff absence to unit function
  • activate business continuity planning such as staff deployment across functional areas, reallocation of roles and duties, reduction of or deferral of activity, use of alternate workforce models.
• Where all reasonable options are exhausted and the staff member is critical to healthcare service delivery, you can return the staff member to critical clinical duties with strict adherence to infection control practices including:
  • eating and drinking alone in designated area preferably outside ensuring >2m distance from others
  • avoiding common spaces
  • no mask removal in presence of others
  • wearing a N95 mask and eye protection at all times within the clinical area
  • avoiding -- where possible -- contact with highly immunosuppressed patients
  • wearing a N95 mask at all times within the office admin/ blue space areas.

It is important all managers keep a local record of staff who have returned to site for critical clinical duties during period of close household contact.

Guidelines for staff who are confirmed COVID-19 positive

I've tested positive to COVID-19 -- when can I come back to work?

If you test positive for COVID-19, you need to remain away from the workplace for 5 days. You can then return to work as long as you have no acute symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, cough or shortness of breath in the last 24 hours of day 5 of your isolation.

If you are unwell or symptomatic, you must not return to work. If symptoms continue or if immune suppressed, please consult with your GP for clearance.

For managers: what to do when your team member is exposed to COVID-19

Here are some steps to follow if a member of your team is exposed to COVID-19:

• Your team member should inform you they are a close contact or have tested positive.
• Send your team member the isolation form to complete.
• If they are able to, your team member can work from home by completing the work from home online form for your approval.
• The team member should follow the testing requirements in the above staff furlough tables.

What leave do I take?

Staff who test positive to COVID-19 or are otherwise unwell or symptomatic should remain away from the workplace and access sick leave. On a case by case basis staff may request permission to work from home (if their role permits) if they have tested positive with no symptoms, or are only mildly symptomatic but otherwise remain well.

Staff caring for a household member who has tested positive to COVID-19 should access family / carers' leave. On a case by case basis staff may request permission to work from home (if their role permits).

CALHN's annual staff flu vaccination program is an essential service led by the Clinical Worker Health Service, available across all sites and programs.

Vaccination against flu is one of the best ways to protect your family, patients, colleagues, and the community this winter. That’s why the provision of safe and effective flu vaccines to all healthcare workers is one of CALHN’s top priorities.

Have you claimed a staff flu vaccination voucher but not yet visited your pharmacy?

Time is running out to get your FREE flu vaccination. See the expiry dates below for eligible pharmacies and note that appointments are subject to availability, so don’t leave it to the last minute.

If you haven’t yet claimed a voucher for a free pharmacy vaccination, you have until 30 June to do so. Make sure you are booked into your preferred pharmacy before:

• 21 June 2025 – Chemist Warehouse NOW EXPIRED
• 30 July 2025 – Priceline Pharmacy
• 30 August 2025 – Terry White Chemmart

The flu season is upon us - and the patients we care for - so take advantage of this important health initiative and play your part in fighting the flu.

To claim a voucher and make a booking, create an account with our immunisation management platform Vitavo using your CALHN employee number and phone if you experience any technical issues with your voucher

After vaccination, complete the “vaccinated elsewhere” form. Email us if you have any queries around the CALHN staff flu vaccination program.