Aged care residents in NSW will be able to host as many Christmas visitors as they want as regulations imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19 into the facilities are eased.
The two-visitor rule will be lifted from Tuesday, NSW Health says. There will no limit on the number of people allowed to visit each resident.
Performers like choirs and musicians will also be able to visit for the first time since March for festive traditions of carols and Christmas concerts.
The news comes as NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Sunday recorded 10 consecutive days without a locally acquired COVID-19 case.
“The risk of transmission in the community is now low enough to facilitate the easing of restrictions for aged care, just as the NSW government has eased restrictions across many other areas,” NSW Health’s director of aged care Stefanie Williams said in a statement on Monday.
“Social connections are important to all of us, but particularly to residents in aged care. We are very pleased to enable residents to spend time with more of their loved ones this festive season.”
The changes were announced as NSW public health orders forcing employers to consider work-from-home arrangements for staff are wound back.
Employers are now able to recall staff to NSW offices if they see fit, which Treasurer Dominic Perrottet hopes will spur productivity improvements.
“What I think we’ll see over this time is a combination of people working from home, returning to the city, doing both,” Mr Perrottet told reporters.
“If that increases productivity then that’s a great thing.
“We want to have as much culture and as much life, particularly over the weekends as well, to bring people back to town.”
Sourced By: AAP
