Vulnerable people and high risk settings

Some people are at higher risk from severe illness from COVID-19, including older people and those in aged care, disability, and health care settings or those with chronic disease.

People at higher risk from COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) can make anyone seriously ill but for some people, the risk is higher.

For most people at high risk from COVID-19, vaccination will significantly reduce this risk, however some people continue to be at high risk from COVID-19, despite vaccination.

For some people in this group there are special treatments called antivirals that can help reduce the severity of disease and risk of hospitalisation and death.

Some of the reasons why people may be classed as vulnerable, or at higher risk to severe disease include (but not exhaustive):

• Aged over 60 years old
• Living in a residential aged care or disability facility
• Living with disability with multiple conditions or frailty
• Neurological conditions – stroke, dementia
• Demyelinating conditions (e.g., multiple sclerosis or Guillain-Barre Syndrome)
• Chronic respiratory conditions, including COPD, moderate to severe asthma
• Obesity
• Diabetes – Type I or II requiring medication
• Cardiac disease
• Kidney failure
• Cirrhosis
• Immunocompromised
• Transplant recipient
• HIV
• Chemotherapy in the last three months
• Whole body radiation in the last three months
• Immunosuppressive therapy in last three months
• Cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome
• Congenital heart disease
• Blood cancer or some red cell disorders.

High risk settings

High-risk settings are those where:

• there are likely to be people who have a higher chance of severe illness from COVID-19.
• COVID-19 may spread quickly.
• management of outbreaks may be particularly complex.
• large outbreaks may cause disruption to essential services.

High risk settings are:

• hospitals
• residential aged care facilities
• disability residential facilities.

Public health best practice guidance high risk and priority settings

For more information view Best practice guidance high risk and priority settings.

Visiting high risk settings

In Tasmania, visits to high risk settings, are important for families, friends and people providing care and support. Individual sites and facilities may have in place special processes and procedures.

This may include requiring that visitors:

• complete entry screening
• undertake a rapid antigen test (RAT) before entering
• wear a face mask at all times while they remain on the premises
• are vaccinated for COVID-19 and/or flu.

Who should not visit a high risk setting?

To protect those at a higher risk of severe disease there are circumstances in which individuals should not enter a high risk setting.

These include anyone who:

• has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last seven days
• is currently a close contact of a case of COVID-19
• has symptoms of COVID 19 (runny nose, cough, sore throat and fever) even if their COVID test is negative.

In some exceptional circumstances, for example for end-of-life care, people who have recently been diagnosed with COVID 19 or are close contacts, may be granted access after discussion with the facility management, if certain conditions are met.

Priority settings

Priority settings are premises that may require special advice and support from Public Health when there is risk of COVID-19 spreading in those settings.

Priority settings include:

• schools and early childhood services
• prisons, correctional facilities and detention centres
• support and special schools
• food processing, distribution, and cold storage facilities
• specialist housing and homeless shelters
• essential services
• Aboriginal communities and remote communities including remote islands
• remote industrial sites with accommodation
• migrant workers’ accommodation
• cruise ships.

For more information view Best practice guidance high risk and priority settings.

Information for people with disability

Many people with disability are supported by family, carers and/or support workers. It is important you continue to receive the support and services you need.

Supported Independent Living (SIL)

Any resident of Supported Independent Living (SIL) services showing symptoms of COVID-19 should be supported as per the Tasmanian Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disability Service Providers Preparedness and Response Plan and the obligations under the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.

The Best Practice Guidance for Disability Services provides more detail on how sectors and workplaces can meet the Minimum Standards for disability providers, including NDIS Providers and In-home Services.

Where to find more information

The Australian Government Department of Health website has advice for people with disability.

Participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) should contact the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) on 1800 800 110 if they need to talk to a planner, make changes to their plan or are having trouble getting services due to COVID-19.

More information about COVID-19 for NDIS participants and their families and carers is available on the NDIS website. The NDIS website also includes Easy Read information to support people with disability and the people who support them to respond to COVID-19.

The Council for Intellectual Disability has great resources about mask wearing during COVID-19.

Tasmania has disability advocacy services that can support people with disability to have their say or to help them understand how COVID-19 might affect them. These include:

• Your Say Advocacy Tasmania
• The Association for Children with Disability (Tas.) Inc.
• Speak Out Advocacy
• Care2Serve

Information for older Tasmanians

Adults aged 65 years and over have a higher risk of falling seriously ill with COVID-19.

If you’re in this age group, there are actions you can take to protect yourself from getting COVID-19 or from becoming very sick if you get it.

Stay up to date with vaccinations

• Vaccination remains one of the best ways to protect yourself from severe outcomes from COVID-19. This is even more important for older people.
• Keep up to date with your vaccinations by knowing which dose you’re eligible for.
• Vaccines remain the safest and most effective way to protect against COVID-19.

Find out more about vaccinations.

Accessing antivirals

• Antiviral medications treat COVID-19 and are proven to save lives and reduce the risk of needing hospitalisation when taken early.
• People aged 70 and over are eligible for antiviral medications.

Find out more about antiviral treatments.

Aged care

Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) are classed as high risk settings in Tasmania. This is because residents of aged care are at increased risk of COVID-19 infection and are more vulnerable to serious complications if they do become infected.

Find out more about high risk settings

Where to find more information

• View latest Aged Care Alerts
• View aged care resources
• Senior Australians, their families and carers can call the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) Older Australians COVID-19 Support Line on 1800 700 600.