Surveillance testing industry list - COVID-19

Key terms:

PCR = Polymerase Chain Reaction

RAT = Rapid Antigen Test

Industry

Workforce required to test

Testing frequency

MANDATORY

There are no mandatory surveillance testing requirements

Industry

Workforce recommended to test

Testing frequency

RECOMMENDED

Care Facilities

Employees and contractors of residential aged care facilities

Per week:

• 1 x PCR

OR

• At least 3 x RAT, with <72 hour interval between tests

Commercial cleaning services

Employees engaged in on-site delivery of cleaning within:

· Hotel quarantine

· Residential aged care

As per testing of workforces in the relevant cleaning location

Commercial passenger vehicles

Employees who transport passengers or crew from international ports of entry

Per week:

• 1 x PCR

OR

• At least 3 x RAT, with <72 hour interval between tests

for 14 days after last exposure to passengers or crew from international ports of entry

Hospitals

(health service discretion)

Health services can implement surveillance testing for workers who work in areas that are designated at risk

Per week:

• 1 x PCR

OR

• At least 3 x RAT, with <72 hour interval between tests

Hotel quarantine

Employees engaged in all on-site work at any of the designated quarantine or health hotels and in the transport of residents to or between designated quarantine or health hotels during their quarantine period

Per week:

• 1 x PCR

OR

• At least 3 x RAT, with <72 hour interval between tests

Ports of entry – Air

(Avalon Airport; Melbourne Airport)

Employees who have direct contact or interaction with international passengers or crew or enter vessels from international destinations

Per week:

• 1 x PCR

OR

• At least 3 x RAT, with <72 hour interval between tests

Ports of Entry – Maritime

(Port of Melbourne; Geelong Port; Port of Hastings, and Port of Portland)

(Surveillance testing of maritime port workers is currently suspended)

N/A

Schools

Early childhood education and childcare

Staff

Per week, on school days:

• 2 x RAT

Primary school

Staff

Per week, on school days:

• 2 x RAT

Secondary school

Staff

Per week, on school days:

• 2 x RAT

Specialist school

Staff

Per week, on school days:

• 5 x RAT

Construction

Optional for facilities with >400 workers

Wastewater Surveillance

Facilities may choose to undertake wastewater surveillance which involves organised sampling of wastewater by the department to identify possible COVID-19 detections that can be used to provide testing recommendations (RAT or PCR) of workers.

OR

Alternative Surveillance Testing:

Facilities may choose to undertake self-organised surveillance testing of workers using PCR or RAT without wastewater surveillance.

Food supply related warehousing and distribution

Optional for facilities with >100 workers

Meat, poultry, and seafood processing

Optional for facilities with >100 workers

Supermarket distribution, perishable food chilled distribution

Optional for facilities with >100 workers