Victoria’s allied health professionals can remain open and ophthalmologists can continue with elective surgery during the re-instated lockdown across metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.
Optometry Victoria South Australia (OVSA) has informed its members that the Victorian Department of Human and Health Services confirmed optometry practices are not mandated to close during the lockdown period. While there is no enforceable directive from the Australian Government regarding exactly which clinical services optometrists should or shouldn’t be providing, OVSA urged its members to use clinical judgement determining their level of service.
Victoria Health Minister Jenny Mikakos told ABC that elective surgery could continue across the affected areas: “As was the case previously with the stay at home directions, seeking and receiving health or medical care is a permissible reason to leave home, so if you are booked in for elective surgery, that surgery will be able to continue.”
The stage 3 restrictions affecting metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire were re-introduced from 11.59pm Wednesday 8 July 2020.
