Djab Wurrung Heritage Protection Embassy COVID-19 Health & Safety Protocol

***please bear with us as we update this as the COVID-19 Situation changes***

MARCH 20, 2020: The Embassy’s immediate recommendations to all allies and visitors are:

  • Support is still needed with day to day tasks on the frontline. Please join a working group to get involved.
  • Please do not come to camp if you are feeling unwell or have recently returned from overseas.
  • There is lots you can do to support the frontline from home, Please join a working group to get involved and support from afar/when practicing physical distancing.
  • We will continue to re assess our protocol and advice as the situation changes
  • We are discussing and considering the ways which the Embassy will function if we are forced into self isolation.

***please be advised these may change as circumstances change***

If you are thinking about coming to camp, please READ THESE GUIDELINES

1. THINK BEFORE YOU COME:

  • COVID-19 has the potential to devastate First Nations communities, particularly in remote areas.  While the Embassy is close to services and healthcare, please consider that not all mob visiting camp are always able to access these services as easily in their home communities - and please do not visit remote indigenous communities.  
  • Are you at risk of passing on COVID-19 to elders, key frontline protectors, young ones, those that might be immuno-compromised, and other allies?
  • Are you at risk of contracting COVID-19? Will your presence at the Embassy put you at greater risk?  Please consider your own health needs as a priority.

Please do not come to camp if you are experiencing symptoms. The most common COVID-19 symptoms reported include:

1. High fever

2. Breathing difficulties such as breathlessness

3. Cough

4. Sore throat

5. Fatigue or tiredness.

Less common, but symptoms that can still be present:

1. Aches and pains

2. Nasal congestion

3. Runny nose

4. Diarrhoea

Dangerous symptoms,call ambulance or present to emergency immediately:

5. Difficulty breathing

Remember: If you feel unwell at all, don’t risk it, stay home

2. CAMP PROTOCOLS - TAKE CARE:

Prevention Is Key - 10 ways to reduce your risk of COVID-19

1. Wash hands often with soap and running water, for at least 20 secs. Dry with a paper towel or hand dryer.

2. Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

3. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you don’t have a tissue cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow.

4. Isolate yourself at home if you feel sick. If you take medication ensure you have adequate supplies.

5. Phone your GP first if you need medical attention. They will tell you what to do.

6. Continue healthy habits: exercise, drinkwater, get plenty of sleep.

7. Don't wear a face mask if you are well. (see additional information in resource section of this document)

8. Buy an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with over 60 percent alcohol.

9. Get the flu shot (available April).

10. Shaking hands is optional! Shaking hands may help spread the virus,consider other greetings during this period?

Extra prevention measures at the Embassy:

1. Follow all the advice for personal care above.

2. Be conscious of your travel options to and from camp, check in with people you are travelling with around their physical and mental health.  Do not give lifts to vulnerable people at greater risk of contracting the virus.

3. Make sure you check-in at the registration tent at TOP CAMP - we may need to contact you in the case of someone coming into contact with the virus.

4. Ensure good hygiene is practised and promoted in shared face to face spaces. This Includes regularly washing hands with soap (for a minimum of 20-30 seconds), avoiding touching your nose or face, practising appropriate cough and sneeze etiquette and physical distancing - no hugging, kissing, hand shaking, sharing drink or food.

5. Shaking hands is optional! Shaking hands may help spread the virus, consider other greetings and reduce physical contact at camp during this period.

6.Keep distance between yourself and others around camp - eg enjoy fireplaces and communal hanging spaces with 1.5m space between each person

7.Please ensure shared surfaces and equipment (such as computers, telephones, kitchen utensils) are regularly cleaned over the course of the day.

8. Be aware of where you sleep, put a few meters between yourself and others.

9. Buy an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with over 60 percent alcohol and bring it with you.

10. Bring your own crockery, cutlery and cups, keep them with you and clean at all times.

11. If using camp utensils: Make sure dishes are cleaned immediately after use, wash dishes again before you use them.

12.If preparing food ensure good hygiene - tie long hair back, wash hands and all cooking surfaces before meal preparation Ensure all food scraps are disposed of and not left in kitchens

13. Structure your tasks and support at camp around maximum physical distancing.

14. When coordinating shared tasks, redesigning meetings deliberately restrict the numbers of people attending a meeting/briefing in person while also practising physical distancing in these shared spaces

15. If you begin to feel unwell at camp, please let someone at camp know, take measures to self isolate and  seek medical advice. Phone your GP first if you need medical attention. They will tell you what to do.

16.Take care of each other - if you are worried about someone, ask them to seek medical advice.

3. SUPPORTING THE EMBASSY WHILE AT HOME / PRACTICING PHYSICAL DISTANCING:

  • Physical distance does not need to mean cutting yourself off from your social networks. Stay connected, send updates and share your stories and experiences from the Embassy.
  • Use virtual/digital platforms for regularly meetings and planning
  • Take some time to think about/talk about decolonising and anti racism with your community

4. GENERAL ADVICE TO ALLIES  RE COVID-19

If you think you have been exposed to COVID-19

The below protocol is specifically related to what to do if you believe you may have been exposed or have COVID-19. If you are exhibiting the most common symptoms of COVID-19, have recently traveled to a high risk country or have been in sustained contact with someone who has been confirmed as having the virus then please take the following steps:

1. Self isolate and do not come to camp

2. Contact your local GP to seek medical advice or call the Federal Government 24/7 CoronavirusHealth Information Line 1800 020 080

3. If you are advised to get tested you can find more information on your State Department’s and testing locations here

4. Once you receive your test results, follow the medical advice

5. If you are found to have the virus but are not admitted to hospital, you will be instructed by doctors about how long you will need to continue to self isolate

Screening clinics have been established at 12 Victorian hospitals. Patients who have symptoms compatible with COVID-19 may present to these screening clinics.

● The Alfred Hospital

● Albury Wodonga

● Austin Hospital

● Barwon Health – Geelong

● Box Hill Hospital

● Monash Clayton

● Northern Hospital.

● Peninsula Health – Frankston

● The Royal MelbourneHospital

● St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne

● Sunshine Hospital

● Wonthaggi Hospital

Self Assessment - Please read the below or click through to the PDF

Extra Resources :

Sources:

https://www.hha.org.au/hand-hygiene/what-is-hand-hygiene

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/06/study-95-of-people-dont-wash-their-hands-correctly/276

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https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/index.html