To our Pursue Health community,

We appreciate that there is growing concern within the community with regards to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The current advice we have received from the Department of Health and Human Services is that there is no extra cause for worry. It is the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure we are acting with a sense of urgency and responsibility to both ourselves and those around us in an effort to minimise the transmission and impact of the virus.

The current recommendation from the DHHS is that only people who had ‘direct contact’ with an infected person (within 1.5 meters of the person for longer than 15 minutes or in the same room for two hours) need to self-isolate and contact their GP, while everyone else is advised to just continue regular hygiene precautions. Unless of course they present any sort of symptoms, at which time they should be tested by their GP. As per the advice from the Department of Health, our business will continue on as normal.

Our Practice and staff have maintained and increased the level of hygiene practices to ensure the best environment for the health of all.

This includes:

• constant disinfection of any pilates and gym equipment after every use.
• meticulous hand hygiene between patient appointments.
• hand sanitizer at the front desk and waiting room, which we request all patients to please use.
• regular disinfecting of common areas, including hand rails, door knobs chairs and the front desk.
• self quarantine measures for 14 days of any staff member that has returned from any of the high risk areas in the last few weeks no matter if they are symptomatic or not.
• all staff working independently through the clinic to avoid the likelihood of any cross contamination if an issue arises.

We kindly ask anyone attending our practice to please:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds, and use the hand sanitizer provided at reception.
• If you feel unwell or have any symptoms including fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, shortness of breath, be in touch with your GP and please contact the practice to reschedule your appointment for a time when you are well again.
• Avoid hand-shaking, hugging and kissing. Big smiles are always recommended.
• If you are returning from a high risk area overseas, please avoid making an appointment until after the 14 day quarantine period.

While concern, worry and fear of the unknown are normal and expected reactions to the current situation, we encourage you not to panic and to go about your day to day business as usual, doing your best to look after yourself and others.

Should there be any further update on this matter, we will inform you accordingly.

We hope for the continued safety of all.

The Pursue Health Team

For further information please visit www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus.