In light of the recent outbreak of covid19 (aka as coronavirus), Blackburn Family Dental Care has taken steps to minimise the risks of cross infection and to protect its patients against this virus. We are following the current ADA (Australian Dental Association) infection control recommendation guidelines and are asking patients with the following:

1) Fever or history of fever AND acute respiratory infection (shortness of breath or cough or sore throat)
OR
Severe acute respiratory infection without fever requiring hospitalisation and

2) Epidemiological criteria
Travel to (including transit through) mainland China in the 14 days before onset of illness
OR
Close contact* in 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed or suspected case of 2019-nCoV.

3) Close contact within 14 days of symptom onset with any of the following:
•    a confirmed or suspected case of 2019-nCoV;
•    a healthcare facility in China.

To please defer any non urgent dental treatments. We appreciate your consideration to others.

For those who are well, we have also listed a few practical tips from the centre of disease control to minimise the spread of the virus. These include:

  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
  • Follow CDC’s recommendations for using face mask.
  • CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear face masks to protect themselves from respiratory viruses, including 2019-nCoV.
  • Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of 2019 novel coronavirus, in order to protect others from the risk of getting infected. The use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings (at home or in a health care facility). Here at Blackburn Family Dental Care we make it an effort to observe proper hand washing techniques and infection control procedures (ppe) between each patient.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
  • If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.

Once again we thankyou for your consideration of others.

Kind regards,
The team at Blackburn Family Dental Care.