16 August 2021
Flinders University continues to closely monitor COVID-19 outbreaks nationally to support our staff in SA, the NT and elsewhere. This page will be regularly updated to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our community.
Lockdowns or restrictions are in place across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, WA, Tasmania and the ACT , as well as South Australia and the Northern Territory, at varying levels and for varying periods - please check local health department advice.
Latest information about COVID-19 for South Australia can be found on the SA Health website.
If you’re at one of our Northern Territory locations, please check advice from NT Health.
Wherever you are, it’s important to maintain safe social distance, practice thorough hygiene, and if unwell stay at home, arrange to have a COVID test and self-isolate until you receive a negative result.
NORTHERN TERRITORY LOCKDOWN
A COVID positive case in the Darwin and Katherine communities has prompted the Northern Territory government to announce a snap three-day lockdown from noon Monday 16 August to noon Thursday 19 August.
It covers greater Darwin including Palmerston, Litchfield, Wagait Beach and Dundee Beach, and Katherine including Tindal.
Resident in greater Darwin and Katherine are permitted to leave home only for:
- Medical treatment including coronavirus testing and vaccinations
- obtaining essential goods and services
- Essential work
- One hour of exercise within a 5km radius
- To provide care to people unable to support themselves.
Anyone outside their home must wear a mask, noting some are exempt for medical reasons or disability. By wearing a mask, you are protecting yourself and helping create a safer environment for those who cannot.
Staff working to deliver health services deemed essential by the NT government or the University are considered essential workers. Noting non-essential facilities are closed, staff are advised to transition work activities online where possible. Schools in affected areas will only be open for children of essential workers.
For the latest information please visit NT health.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA RESTRICTIONS
South Australia is currently under Level 1 restrictions, with some additional requirements.
Safety advice
- SA Health advises masks are mandatory in the following settings:
- high risk settings
- Disability/aged care facilities
- Prison or correctional facilities
- Aboriginal community-controlled health services
- health care services
- passenger transport services
- public indoor places where face to face interactions occur
- SA Health strongly recommends wearing masks while on South Australian university campuses including in office spaces.
- Please remember that some people may be unable to wear masks due to a medical condition or disability. By wearing a mask, you are helping create a safer environment for those who cannot.
- Visit the SA Government website for a full list of the reasons why a person may not be required to wear a mask.
- Density limits are to stay set at 1 person per 2 square metres and people are encouraged to maintain physical distance of 1.5 metres from others.
- If physical distancing cannot be observed, face masks are strongly encouraged.
Teaching and learning
- Workshops, seminars and tutorials can be conducted in person where spacing allows.
- Lectures will remain online.
- Field trips, excursions and group activities can resume with appropriate restrictions in place. Due to the changing nature of the pandemic, events and field trips may be cancelled with minimal notice. Please continue to have contingency plans in place.
- Events
- Events can take place in person where they cannot be held online.
- Physical events will still need to be conducted in line with SA Health requirements including:
- Applicable density requirements are met and best endeavours to maintain 1.5 m physical distancing between individuals.
- Seated activities: 3 people per 4 square metres
- Standing activities: 1 person per 2 square metres
- Blend of seated and standing: 1 person per 2 square metres
- Masks are to be worn in all indoor public areas
- Good hygiene practices and restrictions around communal consumption of food and drink must be adhered to.
- Field Trips
- The easing of restrictions also means intrastate field trips can resume from 5 August for groups of up to 10 people. COVID-19 restrictions including density requirements, hygiene and use of masks must be adhered to for transport, accommodation and field trip activities.
Campus cleaning
- Teaching spaces will be cleaned daily across all campuses, including Bedford Park, Sturt, Flinders Medical Centre, Tonsley and Victoria Square.
- High traffic areas, College fronts and service points will be cleaned twice a day.
- Loop buses are thoroughly cleaned each day, with hand sanitiser and wipes available for use on the buses.
- General office spaces and toilets will continue to be cleaned as normal.
General advice
- Flinders University Sport & Fitness, Oasis and on-campus health services are open with appropriate restrictions in place.
- People are reminded to use QR codes on sites where they need to be used.
- Anyone eligible to be vaccinated is strongly urged to do so.
- Please try to observe physical distancing, practice thorough hand hygiene, and if feeling unwell get COVID tested and isolate immediately.