ORIGINS COVID-19 Update: 3 July 2021
3 JULY UPDATE – Lockdown Lifted with some interim restrictions.
We are delighted that Perth people have done the right thing and Premier Mark McGowan was able to announce the lifting of Perth’s lockdown at midnight tonight, despite another case being confirmed overnight. There are still some interim restrictions in place and the mask mandate will remain for three days, so check the HealthyWA website for more information.
ORIGINS has decided to continue with the way that we have been running ORIGINS appointments and sample collections for the next two weeks. (5-16 July 2021)
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With the announcement last night regarding the four-day lockdown for Perth, The ORIGINS Project is following the advice of the WA Department of Health. Our communities are well and truly in the thick of the northern suburbs hot zone, so we encourage you to get tested if you are at any risk of exposure.
At a time like this, your contribution to research is more important than ever and we, as researchers, are grateful that we have families already involved in research that can contribute so substantially to such a significant time in medical history.
Over the next four days (and beyond if the lockdown is extended past midnight Friday) the following changes will take place to the ORIGINS protocol:
- Appointments - All ORIGINS appointments will continue but will move to a virtual platform and take place via a video link.
- If you have an appointment booked this week, your Family Liaison Officer will be in touch with you, but the plan is for your appointment to remain at the same time but take place via telehealth. One of our team members will call you at your allocated appointment time and will guide you through accessing the video link.
- If you have an appointment and you do not hear from an ORIGINS team member and are unsure of what to do, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
- If you have an appointment booked this week, your Family Liaison Officer will be in touch with you, but the plan is for your appointment to remain at the same time but take place via telehealth. One of our team members will call you at your allocated appointment time and will guide you through accessing the video link.
- Samples – if you are due to collect home samples over the coming week, we will be arranging a courier service to collect them, or to drop off sample collection packs to your home if needed. Your Family Liaison Officer will be aware of your timepoints and will be in touch if necessary to discuss these options with you.
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- If you have already collected samples and are unsure of what to do with them, please contact the team.
- For pregnant and birthing mums – speak to your antenatal care team about your care over the coming week. The ORIGINS birth team will still be visiting our families on the maternity ward at Joondalup Health Campus.
- The ORIGINS office - Suite 213 at Joondalup Health Campus is closed to the public and skeleton clinical staff are onsite. However, the phones have been forwarded and are being monitored.
If you have any questions or concerns at all, get in touch with the ORIGINS team – 9408 3118 or ORIGINSproject@telethonkids.org.au.
For further information about COVID-19 and the Perth lockdown situation visit the Healthy WA website
First published Tuesday 29 June 2021.