MASK UP AND LOOK DOWN 😷
Since Monday, wearing a face mask outside the home has become mandatory for all Victorians.
Anything that interferes with vision may increase your risk of falls, particularly walking outdoors. Your lower peripheral vision (the things you can see without moving your head to look down) is restricted when you wear a mask. This means you may not be able to see the ground and your feet without looking down when you have a face covering on. In addition, if you wear glasses, they may fog up when you are wearing a face covering such as a mask.
To stay safe while walking outdoors with a mask, the team from Safe Exercise at Home recommend you:
 look down regularly when walking, and always when you are walking on an uneven surface or approaching a curb or step;
 when going up or down a curb or step, look down and use a support such as a handrail to assist with balance if available;
 if wearing glasses, try the following to help prevent them fogging up:
o ensure firm fit over your nose, with glasses over the top of the fabric (if your mask has a wire, mould it over your nose; or use tape that is designed to be used on skin to hold down the top of your mask);
o place a small piece of folded paper towel or tissue on the bridge of your nose between the mask and your face to help absorb moisture;
o cleaning glasses with a small amount of dishwashing liquid;
 use single lens glasses (in preference to bifocal or multifocal glasses) for walking outside if you have them.
Remember: Mask Up and Look Down!
For more information, visit https://www.safeexerciseathome.org.au/mask-up-and-look-down

COVID-19 TESTING CRITERIA

Our screening clinic team are receiving many calls from people wishing to get COVID-19 testing who do not have any symptoms. Our ERH COVID-19 screening clinic is a 'symptom only' screening clinic as advised by the Department of Health and therefore can not undertake tests for people without symptoms, unless in exceptional circumstances as outlined below.
We ask that you please share this information with your networks, and continue to positively support our team who are working their hardest to keep our community safe.
Pleas see below list of criteria for COVID-19 screening.

You should be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19) if you have:

*Fever OR chills in the absence of an alternative diagnosis that explains the clinical presentation (including consideration of potential co-infection with other illness)*

OR

*Acute respiratory infection (e.g. cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, anosmia or loss of smell or loss of taste)

Note: In addition, testing is recommended for people with new onset of other clinical symptoms consistent with COVID-19 (at clinical discretion) AND who are close contacts of a confirmed case of coronavirus (COVID-19); who have returned from overseas in the past 14 days; or who are healthcare or aged care workers

Who should not be tested for coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Patients without symptoms should not be tested except in special circumstances such as:

* Recovered cases wishing to return to work in a healthcare facility or aged care facility.
* Where requested by the department as part of outbreak management or enhanced surveillance.
Click here for more information: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/assessment-and-testing-criteria-coronavirus-covid-19