On the 2nd of August, the NSW Government updated its health advice regarding the use of masks in public. The NSW Government is strongly encouraging greater use of masks in high-risk public settings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Advice from the NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant specifically recommends:

• the use of face masks in indoor settings where physical distancing is hard to maintain, such as on public transport or in supermarkets

• the use of face masks (where practical) in indoor settings with a higher risk of transmission, such as for the staff of hospitality and customer-facing venues i.e. cafes, restaurants, pubs and clubs

• during attendance at places of worship.

Wearing a mask in any of these settings is not mandatory but is highly recommended, especially in areas where there has been community transmission.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said a mask is not a substitute for physical distancing. “People should continue to maintain their physical distance – it is our most effective weapon. However, if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t maintain your physical distance you should wear a mask,” Ms Berejiklian said. Read more.

On the 24th of July, NSW Health advised that all public health workers are required to wear a surgical mask if they are within 1.5 meters of patients. This includes the requirement for patients to wear a mask, where possible. This is in response to the current context of local transmission and NSW Health’s advice to escalate to a moderate level of risk. This is not mandatory for private practice. However, it is important to avoid the possibility of close contact within your practice.

• Physical distancing is required in all areas of the practice, including in waiting rooms and staff rooms. Masks are recommended if it is not possible to physically distance.

• Reduce the risk of close contact including staff to staff, patient to staff and patient to patient by minimising wait times for patients, staggering staff lunch breaks etc.

• Please ensure that all patients are asked appropriate screening questions when making the appointment and again when they arrive. Be especially cautious if the practice/patient is located in areas with community transmission (see NSW and ACT hotspots). It may be appropriate in this instance to defer the appointment.

• For an understanding of how close contacts are defined, please see the latest version of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CDNA SoNG reference document found here). Understanding what constitutes a close contact will help you understand how to prevent it occurring in non-clinical areas of your practice.

These updates and more are available at ADA NSW’s COVID-19 Information for Dental Practitioners.