All staff and visitors to be screened before entering Western Sydney hospitals

Staff, visitors and contractors will all be screened upon entry to Auburn, Blacktown, Cumberland, Mount Druitt and Westmead hospitals as well as Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) community health centres from this week as a new COVID-19 precaution.

Screening stations will be set up at every entrance for general health checks and questions about your recent travel history.

Anyone who does not satisfy screening requirements will be given relevant information and advice on the next steps they should take.

WSLHD chief executive Graeme Loy explained that this temporary measure is to help limit the risk of COVID-19 exposure to hospital staff and patients.

“These are extraordinary times and they call for extraordinary measures,” Graeme said.

“COVID-19 has significantly impacted the way we live and work, and we understand a lot is changing in a short period of time. Please be assured that these temporary measures are being put in place to keep our staff, patients and visitors safe.

“Thank you for your patience and co-operation as we work together to keep our hospitals safely running for our community.”

This new precaution is in addition to the one visitor per patient limit that was introduced last month.

If you are feeling unwell, have been overseas in the past 14 days, or been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, please self-isolate at home.

For health advice, call your GP or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

In an emergency, call triple-zero (000) immediately.