With the extension of the lockdown in SE Queensland due to the latest outbreak of the Delta Covid-19 variant, the Australian Government has announced that significant quantities of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be made available to GPs, community pharmacies and other healthcare providers who need to see their patients within their practices.
Health professionals in the LGAs currently in lockdown will be able to request a package of PPE from the National Medical Stockpile (NMS) throughout their local Primary Health Network (PHN) from an initial allocation of up to:
- 725,000 surgical masks;
- 725,000 N95 masks;
- 175,000 pairs of gloves;
- 175,000 gowns; and
- 175,000 goggles.
These items will reportedly be made available through the five PHNs relevant to the Commonwealth hotspot, namely:
- Brisbane North;
- Brisbane South;
- Darling Downs and West Moreton;
- Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast; and
- Gold Coast.
These packages will assist to further suppress the Covid-19 infection rate occurring across Queensland and are said to build on the recent commitment to support New South Wales and Victoria as announced on 12 July 2021 and 19 July 2021 respectively.
