As the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic (declared on the 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organisation) continues, we the EPA, continue to monitor international public health authority releases and Australian Government directives and guidelines.

EPA members will be aware that they can continue to practice, however they must abide by the directives given by their state and territory health authorities in response to COVID-19 outbreaks.

These directives apply to:

• The capacity for your business to provide services during outbreaks and lockdowns. You may need to close down your practice for periods of time in accordance with state health authority directives.
• All members must comply with practice requirements for safe social-distancing in waiting room areas. Please refer to your state department of health websites for the requirements specific to your state or territory.
• Your clients may be required to wear a mask in waiting room areas, or for the entire appointment. Please refer to your state department of health websites for mask-wearing requirements specific to your state or territory. You will need to provide a mask for clients who cannot bring their own. You may be required to refuse service to a client who will not wear a mask.
• Please provide alcohol-based hand rub for your clients and advise them to use it on entering and departing your premises.
• For the foreseeable future you will need to ‘screen’ your clients for the presence of symptoms such as sore throat, cough and fever. You will also need to check whether they have travelled to or from known COVID-19 ‘hot spot’ areas. Throughout the periods of outbreaks, you may be required to decline service to clients who have travelled from or reside in known hot-spots. Please refer to your state department of health websites for updates during outbreaks specific to your state or territory.
• It is recommended that you take the temperature of all clients using an electronic thermometer and record the temperature in their treatment notes.
• You may be required to provide an electronic tracking QR code and request that your clients use it. Please refer to your state department of health websites for the requirements specific to your state or territory. You will need to provide the names, addresses, phone numbers, and time and date of attendance of your clients to healthcare authorities if requested.
• Please do not attend your practice if you develop symptoms such as a sore throat, cough, and fever. You will need to attend your local testing centre for a COVID-19 test. If you test positive you will need to cancel your clients for a period of 14 days. Seek guidance from your state or territory healthcare authority on the correct course of action.  If you test negative for COVID-19 it is advised that you do not return to work until your symptoms have subsided.

The EPA advises all members to comply with the Government’s directives regarding the provision of health and beauty services.

Note that these directives change frequently and you need to keep yourself up to date with all changes. The EPA has issued this notice out of its deep care for public health, safety, and wellbeing, in the face of the Coronavirus pandemic.

We thank all our members in advance for the integrity and responsibility with which they approach this matter.