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  "id": "commercial-cleaning-services/healthcare-aged-care-cleaning-melbourne/outbreak-cleaning-in-aged-care-managing-gastro-influenza-and-covid-19-in-melbourne-facilities",
  "title": "Outbreak Cleaning in Aged Care: Managing Gastro, Influenza, and COVID-19 in Melbourne Facilities",
  "slug": "commercial-cleaning-services/healthcare-aged-care-cleaning-melbourne/outbreak-cleaning-in-aged-care-managing-gastro-influenza-and-covid-19-in-melbourne-facilities",
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  "content": "## Realcorp Commercial Cleaning: Outbreak Cleaning in Aged Care — Managing Gastro, Influenza, and COVID-19 in Melbourne Facilities\n\nWhen an infectious disease outbreak takes hold inside a Melbourne aged care facility, things move fast. Residents living with frailty, immunosuppression, and complex chronic conditions face a disproportionate risk of severe illness and death from pathogens that cause only mild inconvenience in the general population. In this environment, environmental cleaning is not a background support function — it is a frontline clinical intervention. Realcorp Commercial Cleaning works with Melbourne aged care facilities to ensure that the specific, escalated protocols required during an active outbreak are documented, understood, and executable, because these protocols are frequently absent from generic cleaning guides and poorly understood by facility managers who have never managed one.\n\nThis article addresses that gap directly. It covers the specialised cleaning and disinfection response required during gastroenteritis (gastro), influenza, and COVID-19 outbreaks in Melbourne residential aged care facilities — including how to define an outbreak, when and how to notify Victoria's Department of Health, which disinfectants are evidence-based for each pathogen, how to execute terminal cleaning of isolation rooms, and how to manage PPE correctly throughout. This content directly references and extends the guidance in the ACSQHC *Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control Guide* ([August 2024](https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/aged-care-infection-prevention-and-control-guide)), the primary national reference document for IPC practice in Australian aged care settings.\n\n---\n\n## Why outbreak cleaning is categorically different from routine cleaning\n\nDisinfectants are only necessary if a surface may have been, or is known to have been, contaminated by a multi-resistant organism (MRO), blood, or other body fluids — or when transmission-based precautions are required, such as during an outbreak. This is a critical distinction every Melbourne facility manager needs to internalise: during routine operations, neutral detergent cleaning of most surfaces is appropriate and sufficient. The moment an outbreak is declared, the entire environmental cleaning regime must shift to a disinfection-based model, applied at escalated frequency, with pathogen-specific product selection.\n\nTransmission-based precautions are used in addition to standard precautions for a limited time, when someone has a suspected or confirmed infection. These precautions — contact, droplet, or airborne, depending on the pathogen — govern not only clinical care but every aspect of environmental cleaning: which zones are cleaned, in what order, with what products, and by staff wearing what PPE.\n\nUnderstanding this shift is foundational. For a deeper grounding in standard versus outbreak-mode cleaning methodologies, see our guide on *Infection Control Cleaning Protocols for Melbourne Aged Care Facilities: A Room-by-Room Guide*, and our companion piece on *Terminal Cleaning vs Routine Cleaning in Healthcare Settings*.\n\n---\n\n## Defining an outbreak: when do Melbourne facilities need to act?\n\n### Gastroenteritis outbreaks\n\nA gastroenteritis outbreak is defined as two or more cases of vomiting or diarrhoea over a 24-hour period, not counting non-infectious causes such as aperient use or known bowel problems. This threshold is deliberately low because early recognition is the single most effective lever for limiting outbreak size.\n\nNorovirus is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in aged care facilities. It is a robust organism capable of surviving on surfaces for up to 28 days and is highly infectious — which is precisely why the cleaning response must be both immediate and thorough.\n\n### COVID-19 outbreaks\n\nAn outbreak of COVID-19 is declared when two or more residents test positive within a 72-hour period.\n\nOutbreaks in residential care facilities should be notified to the relevant Local Public Health Unit by calling the Communicable Diseases Hotline on 1300 651 160.\n\n### Influenza and other respiratory illness outbreaks\n\nResidential care facilities are strongly recommended to notify outbreaks of COVID-19, influenza, and RSV to the Department of Health.\n\nOutbreaks of infectious disease — respiratory illness (e.g. COVID-19, influenza, RSV) or food-borne and water-borne illness (e.g. gastroenteritis) — within residential care facilities, health services, workplaces, and educational settings should be reported to the Department of Health or Local Public Health Units (LPHUs). This is especially important when multiple cases are identified or when affected individuals are at increased risk of serious illness.\n\n---\n\n## Victoria's notification requirements: what Melbourne facilities must do and when\n\nMelbourne aged care operators are governed by Victoria's *Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008* and the Department of Health's notifiable conditions framework. Notification obligations differ by disease type:\n\n| Disease / Outbreak Type | Notification Trigger | Timeframe | Contact |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| Gastroenteritis (food/water-borne) | 2 or more related cases | Within 24 hours | 1300 651 160 |\n| COVID-19 (residential care) | 2+ residents positive within 72 hours | As soon as recognised | 1300 651 160 |\n| Influenza / RSV (residential care) | Cluster in facility | Strongly recommended, promptly | 1300 651 160 |\n\nIf you suspect a gastro outbreak, notify the department on 1300 651 160 first, then follow the cleaning and control measures in the relevant industry guide.\n\nNotification of food-borne or water-borne illness in two or more related cases must be made within 24 hours by calling 1300 651 160.\n\nFor COVID-19 specifically, pathology services are required to notify in writing within 5 days of laboratory confirmation — it is a routine notifiable condition under Victorian statutory requirements.\n\nOnce notified, the Public Health Unit will typically require a daily line-listing of ill residents and staff, along with information about significant developments such as laboratory results, hospital admissions, or deaths associated with the outbreak.\n\nThe IPC Lead plays a central role in coordinating this process. The IPC Lead is the main contact for all infection issues, oversees the IPC programme, and manages processes to prepare for outbreaks. The IPC Lead must be a nurse who has completed, or is completing, the required specialist IPC training.\n\n---\n\n## Pathogen-specific disinfectant selection: the evidence base\n\nNot all hospital-grade disinfectants are equal in an outbreak context. Product selection must match the specific pathogen — the chemistry that kills influenza virus may be insufficient against norovirus, and what works against COVID-19 may not be sporicidal against *Clostridioides difficile*. For a full overview of TGA disinfectant classifications and ARTG listing requirements, see our guide on *Hospital-Grade Disinfectants in Aged Care and Healthcare: What Melbourne Facilities Need to Use and Why*.\n\n### Gastroenteritis / norovirus: why QUATs fail and bleach leads\n\nThis is where disinfectant selection becomes clinically consequential. Norovirus is a non-enveloped virus — it lacks the lipid membrane that makes enveloped viruses like influenza and SARS-CoV-2 relatively straightforward to inactivate. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATs), commonly used in healthcare cleaning, have poor efficacy against non-enveloped viruses.\n\nResearch published in the *Journal of Hospital Infection* and reviewed by international infection control bodies confirms this. Sodium hypochlorite was the most effective disinfectant against both norovirus surrogates (murine norovirus and feline calicivirus) in healthcare facility testing. The most effective concentrations for inactivating both surrogates on stainless steel surfaces are 1,350–5,400 ppm, with contact times of 5–10 minutes depending on soil load present.\n\nSodium hypochlorite at ≥1,000 ppm reliably achieves a higher than 3 log₁₀ reduction of human norovirus on surfaces, but pre-cleaning before application is strongly recommended to reduce the faecal organic load.\n\nThat pre-cleaning step is non-negotiable. Disinfection must follow either a two-step or two-in-one-step clean-then-disinfect process. Applying bleach to a visibly soiled surface without first removing organic matter dramatically reduces its efficacy. Cleaning staff must remove gross contamination with a disposable cloth and detergent before applying the disinfectant, and the surface must remain visibly wet for the full contact time.\n\nIn practice, during a gastro outbreak in a Melbourne aged care facility, this means:\n- Bleach solution (1,000–5,000 ppm sodium hypochlorite) prepared fresh daily for all bathroom, toilet, and high-touch surfaces\n- Contact time of at least 5–10 minutes before wiping or allowing to dry\n- QUATs and alcohol-based products should not be used as the primary disinfectant during a norovirus outbreak — they are insufficiently virucidal against non-enveloped viruses\n\n### Influenza: enveloped virus, broader product options\n\nInfluenza A and B are enveloped viruses, which makes them significantly easier to inactivate. TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectants with virucidal claims — including QUATs, accelerated hydrogen peroxide (AHP), and sodium hypochlorite — are all appropriate, provided the product label carries a specific claim against influenza and the correct dwell time is observed. During an influenza outbreak, the focus should be on high-touch surface frequency rather than product chemistry alone. Realcorp Commercial Cleaning's outbreak response teams are trained in selecting and applying the correct products for each pathogen type, so Melbourne aged care facilities are never left guessing about product suitability.\n\n### COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): TGA-listed virucidal products required\n\nSARS-CoV-2 is also an enveloped virus and is susceptible to a wide range of TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectants with virucidal claims. During a COVID-19 outbreak, facilities must increase infection prevention and control measures — including cleaning and PPE use — and activate outbreak management plans when the first resident tests positive.\n\nIn residential and centre-based aged care settings, a TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectant with specific claims should be used for routine management of spills. The disinfectant chosen must have label claims against the microorganism of concern and should be compatible with the surface material to avoid damage.\n\n---\n\n## Escalating cleaning frequency during an outbreak\n\nOutbreak mode requires a fundamental restructuring of cleaning schedules. The following escalation framework reflects ACSQHC guidance and Victorian Department of Health outbreak management protocols:\n\n### High-touch surface frequency escalation\n\n| Surface Category | Routine Frequency | Outbreak Frequency |\n|---|---|---|\n| Toilet seats, flush handles, taps | Daily | Minimum 3–4 times daily |\n| Door handles, light switches | Daily | 3–4 times daily |\n| Handrails, mobility aids | Daily | After each use / 3–4 times daily |\n| Dining tables, chairs | After meals | After every use with disinfectant |\n| Resident bedroom surfaces | Daily | Twice daily + after any contamination event |\n| Shared equipment (hoists, wheelchairs) | Daily | After each resident use |\n\nEnhanced cleaning and disinfection protocols can control and prevent the spread of norovirus. This includes increasing the frequency of cleaning and paying closer attention to high-traffic areas and frequently touched surfaces, including door handles and telephones.\n\nTo manage a communicable disease outbreak effectively, facilities may need to implement additional infection control practices, increase the frequency and efficiency of environmental cleaning using appropriate products, and restrict the movement of residents, staff, and visitors.\n\n---\n\n## Terminal cleaning of isolation rooms: a step-by-step protocol\n\nWhen a resident is isolated due to a confirmed or suspected infectious illness, their room requires terminal cleaning upon discharge, transfer, or recovery. Terminal cleaning is not a more thorough version of routine cleaning — it is a distinct, sequenced process designed to achieve the highest possible level of environmental decontamination. See our detailed guide on *Terminal Cleaning vs Routine Cleaning in Healthcare Settings* for a full framework. Realcorp Commercial Cleaning's healthcare division delivers terminal cleans that follow this sequenced protocol in full, with digitally tracked dwell times and supervisor sign-off documented on every engagement.\n\n### Terminal cleaning protocol for gastro / COVID-19 isolation rooms\n\n1. **Don full PPE before entering** (see PPE section below)\n2. **Remove all disposable items** — soiled linen in a sealed bag, single-use supplies, any food items\n3. **Clean all surfaces from high to low, clean to dirty** — ceiling fixtures, walls (if visibly contaminated), furniture, then floor\n4. **Apply TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectant** with pathogen-specific label claims — for gastro, sodium hypochlorite at ≥1,000 ppm; for COVID-19, any ARTG-listed virucidal product\n5. **Observe full contact/dwell time** — minimum 5–10 minutes for norovirus; follow label for COVID-19 products\n6. **Pay particular attention to high-touch points**: bed rails, call buttons, remote controls, light switches, door handles, tap handles, toilet flush, grab rails\n7. **Clean and disinfect all reusable equipment** before removing from the room\n8. **Doff PPE safely** in the correct sequence (see below), disposing of all items as clinical waste\n9. **Perform hand hygiene** immediately after doffing\n10. **Document the terminal clean** — date, time, products used, dwell times, staff member\n\nWhere possible, residents should be cared for in single rooms with their own bathroom. During a respiratory outbreak, cohort isolation of confirmed cases in shared rooms may be considered during surge periods with increasing case numbers.\n\n---\n\n## PPE donning and doffing: the sequence that prevents self-contamination\n\nIncorrect PPE use — particularly during doffing — is one of the most common causes of infection transmission to cleaning staff. The sequence is not arbitrary; it is engineered to prevent contaminated outer surfaces from contacting clean skin or mucous membranes.\n\n### Standard PPE for outbreak cleaning (gastro / COVID-19 / influenza)\n\n- Gloves (nitrile, disposable)\n- Fluid-resistant gown or apron\n- Surgical mask (minimum) — P2/N95 respirator for aerosol-generating situations or COVID-19 in confined spaces\n- Eye protection (goggles or face shield) when there is a risk of splash from vomit, faeces, or body fluids\n\n### Donning sequence (in order)\n1. Hand hygiene\n2. Gown\n3. Mask / respirator\n4. Eye protection\n5. Gloves (over gown cuffs)\n\n### Doffing sequence (in order — most contaminated items first)\n1. Gloves (peel off turning inside out)\n2. Hand hygiene\n3. Eye protection (remove by touching only the strap or arm)\n4. Gown (roll away from body, touching only the inside)\n5. Hand hygiene\n6. Mask (remove by touching only the ties or ear loops)\n7. Hand hygiene\n\nTraining for cleaning staff should cover the basic principles of IPC including hand hygiene, IPC signage, specific cleaning and equipment processes, correct product selection, handling and storage of cleaning solutions, and appropriate PPE use.\n\nDetails about staff training on cleaning and IPC should be recorded, including the frequency of training, how it was delivered, the content covered, who delivered and participated, and when it was undertaken.\n\nFor a comprehensive overview of training obligations for cleaning staff in Victorian healthcare and aged care settings, see our guide on *Healthcare Cleaning Staff Training Requirements in Victoria*.\n\n---\n\n## Managing the outbreak cleaning team: coordination, zoning, and documentation\n\n### Cohorting cleaning staff\n\nDuring an active outbreak, facilities should cohort cleaning staff to specific zones — assigning dedicated cleaners to affected wings or floors and keeping those staff out of unaffected areas. This reduces cross-contamination risk via cleaning equipment, clothing, or hands. Realcorp Commercial Cleaning's deployment model supports this directly. Dedicated outbreak response personnel — directly employed, no subcontractors — can be assigned exclusively to affected zones without disrupting routine cleaning elsewhere in the facility.\n\n### Equipment management\n\nCleaning equipment used in outbreak zones must not be shared with unaffected areas. Colour-coded mop heads, microfibre cloths, and buckets should be dedicated to the outbreak zone and laundered or disposed of appropriately after use. Reusable equipment should be decontaminated using the same TGA-listed disinfectant applied to surfaces.\n\n### Documentation requirements\n\nEvery outbreak-related cleaning intervention should be documented in real time, including:\n- Zone or room cleaned\n- Date and time\n- Products used (including ARTG number, dilution, and batch/lot number)\n- Contact time achieved\n- Name of cleaning staff member\n- Supervisor sign-off\n\nThis documentation serves two purposes: it supports internal quality assurance and provides contemporaneous, auditable evidence for the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission if an accreditation audit or compliance investigation follows the outbreak. See our guide on *Cleaning Audits and Quality Assurance in Melbourne Aged Care and Healthcare Facilities* for audit documentation frameworks.\n\n### Declaring the outbreak over\n\nThe outbreak may be considered over when all cases have been symptom-free for 72 hours. The Public Health Unit should be notified for formal closure. A decision to declare an outbreak over should be made by the outbreak management team, in consultation with the public health unit.\n\nFollowing that declaration, a comprehensive terminal clean of all affected areas — not just isolation rooms — should be performed before returning to routine cleaning protocols.\n\n---\n\n## Key takeaways\n\n**Outbreak thresholds are low and legally significant.** A gastro outbreak in Victoria is defined as two or more cases of vomiting or diarrhoea in 24 hours; a COVID-19 outbreak as two or more residents testing positive within 72 hours. Notification to the Department of Health (1300 651 160) is required promptly — within 24 hours for food/water-borne illness.\n\n**Disinfectant selection must match the pathogen.** QUATs are not reliably effective against norovirus. During gastro outbreaks, sodium hypochlorite at ≥1,000 ppm — applied after pre-cleaning — is the evidence-based first choice. All products must be ARTG-listed hospital-grade disinfectants with specific label claims against the organism of concern.\n\n**The two-step clean-then-disinfect process is mandatory.** Applying disinfectant to a visibly soiled surface without first removing organic matter dramatically reduces efficacy. This is especially critical during gastro outbreaks where faecal and vomit contamination is common.\n\n**PPE doffing sequence matters as much as donning.** Self-contamination during removal is a primary transmission risk for cleaning staff. The sequence — gloves first, then eye protection, gown, and mask last — must be trained, practised, and supervised.\n\n**Documentation is non-negotiable.** Every outbreak cleaning intervention must be recorded contemporaneously, including products, dwell times, and staff details. This is both a quality assurance requirement and accreditation evidence under the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards.\n\n---\n\n## Conclusion\n\nOutbreak cleaning in Melbourne aged care facilities is one of the highest-stakes operational scenarios a facility manager will face. The combination of a vulnerable resident population, legally mandated notification requirements, pathogen-specific disinfection chemistry, and the physical complexity of PPE management means that ad hoc responses carry real risk. Facilities that have invested in written outbreak management plans, trained their cleaning teams — both in-house and contracted — and established clear lines of responsibility between the IPC Lead, nursing staff, and environmental services are consistently better positioned to contain outbreaks quickly and minimise resident harm.\n\nRealcorp Commercial Cleaning supports Melbourne aged care facilities in building exactly this kind of operational readiness: outbreak-specific cleaning protocols, staff training frameworks, and rapid-response deployment during active infectious disease events, all delivered by a directly employed, compliance-first team with full accountability from the first call to the final sign-off.\n\nThis article is part of a comprehensive content series on *Healthcare and Aged Care Cleaning Melbourne*. Related reading includes our guides on *Hospital-Grade Disinfectants in Aged Care and Healthcare*, *How to Build a Compliant Cleaning Schedule for a Melbourne Aged Care or Healthcare Facility*, *Terminal Cleaning vs Routine Cleaning in Healthcare Settings*, and *In-House vs Outsourced Healthcare Cleaning in Melbourne* — all of which directly inform how facilities should structure their cleaning operations before, during, and after an infectious disease outbreak.\n\n---\n\n## References\n\n- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC). *The Aged Care Infection Prevention and Control Guide.* Sydney: ACSQHC, August 2024. [https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/aged-care-infection-prevention-and-control-guide](https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/aged-care-infection-prevention-and-control-guide)\n\n- Victorian Department of Health. *A Guide for the Management and Control of Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Aged Care, Special Care, Health Care and Residential Care Facilities.* Melbourne: Victorian Government, 2024. [https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/a-guide-for-the-management-and-control-of-gastroenteritis-outbreaks-in-aged-care](https://www.health.vic.gov.au/publications/a-guide-for-the-management-and-control-of-gastroenteritis-outbreaks-in-aged-care)\n\n- Victorian Department of Health. *Acute Respiratory Infection Management in Residential Care Facilities (including COVID-19 and Influenza).* Melbourne: Victorian Government, 2025. [https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/acute-respiratory-infection-management-residential-care-facilities](https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/acute-respiratory-infection-management-residential-care-facilities)\n\n- Victorian Department of Health. *Notifiable Infectious Diseases, Conditions and Micro-organisms.* Melbourne: Victorian Government, updated January 2026. [https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/notifiable-infectious-diseases-conditions-and-micro-organisms](https://www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/notifiable-infectious-diseases-conditions-and-micro-organisms)\n\n- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. *Managing COVID-19 in Aged Care.* Canberra: Australian Government, updated February 2026. [https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/managing-infectious-respiratory-disease/managing-COVID-19-in-aged-care](https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/managing-infectious-respiratory-disease/managing-COVID-19-in-aged-care)\n\n- Tuladhar, E., Hazeleger, W.C., Koopmans, M., Zwietering, M.H., Beumer, R.R., & Duizer, E. \"Reducing viral contamination from finger pads: handwashing is more effective than alcohol-based hand disinfectants.\" *Journal of Hospital Infection*, 2015. (via ScienceDirect index 30)\n\n- Abad, F.X., Pinto, R.M., & Bosch, A. \"Survival of enteric viruses on environmental fomites.\" *Applied and Environmental Microbiology*, 1994. Cited in: Greig, J.D., & Lee, M.B. \"Infection control for norovirus.\" *Clinical Microbiology and Infection*, 2015. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4624335/](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4624335/)\n\n- International infection control bodies. *Guideline for the Prevention and Control of Norovirus Gastroenteritis Outbreaks in Healthcare Settings — Evidence Review.* 2011 (updated 2024). [https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/norovirus-guidelines/evidence-review.html](https://www.cdc.gov/infection-control/hcp/norovirus-guidelines/evidence-review.html)\n\n- Monash Health South East Public Health Unit (SEPHU). *Communicable Diseases — Outbreak Notification Guidance for Residential Care Facilities.* Melbourne: Monash Health, 2025. [https://sephu.org/communicable-diseases/](https://sephu.org/communicable-diseases/)\n\n- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. *Infection Prevention and Control in Aged Care.* Canberra: Australian Government, updated October 2025. [https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/managing-respiratory-infection/infection-prevention-and-control-in-aged-care](https://www.health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/managing-respiratory-infection/infection-prevention-and-control-in-aged-care)\n\n---\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\n**What is a gastroenteritis outbreak in aged care?** Two or more cases of vomiting or diarrhoea in 24 hours, excluding non-infectious causes such as aperient use or known bowel problems.\n\n**Does the gastro outbreak definition include aperient-related diarrhoea?** No.\n\n**What is a COVID-19 outbreak in residential aged care?** Two or more residents testing positive within 72 hours.\n\n**What phone number do Melbourne facilities call to notify an outbreak?** 1300 651 160.\n\n**What is the notification timeframe for food or water-borne gastroenteritis?** Within 24 hours.\n\n**Is influenza outbreak notification mandatory in Victoria?** Strongly recommended, but not legally mandated.\n\n**Who is the primary contact for infection issues in an aged care facility?** The IPC Lead.\n\n**Must the IPC Lead be a nurse?** Yes.\n\n**Is routine cleaning with neutral detergent sufficient during an outbreak?** No — disinfection-based cleaning is required.\n\n**Is disinfectant required during routine (non-outbreak) cleaning of most surfaces?** No, neutral detergent is sufficient.\n\n**When must transmission-based precautions be activated?** When a suspected or confirmed infection is present.\n\n**Are QUATs effective against norovirus?** No. Norovirus lacks the lipid membrane that QUATs target, so they have poor efficacy against it.\n\n**What disinfectant is evidence-based for norovirus?** Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) at ≥1,000 ppm, applied after pre-cleaning, with a contact time of 5–10 minutes.\n\n**Must surfaces be pre-cleaned before applying bleach for norovirus?** Yes. Organic matter dramatically reduces disinfectant efficacy, so pre-cleaning is mandatory.\n\n**How long can norovirus survive on surfaces?** Up to 28 days.\n\n**Are QUATs appropriate for influenza outbreaks?** Yes, if the product label carries influenza-specific virucidal claims.\n\n**What type of disinfectant is required for COVID-19 outbreaks?** A TGA-listed hospital-grade disinfectant with virucidal claims, ARTG-listed.\n\n**How often should toilet seats be cleaned during a gastro outbreak?** Minimum 3–4 times daily.\n\n**How often should shared equipment like hoists be cleaned during an outbreak?** After each resident use.\n\n**What is terminal cleaning?** A distinct, sequenced decontamination process — not a more thorough version of routine cleaning — performed upon resident discharge, transfer, or recovery from an isolation room.\n\n**What is the correct PPE doffing sequence?** Gloves first, then hand hygiene, eye protection, gown, hand hygiene, mask last, followed by final hand hygiene.\n\n**Should cleaning staff be cohorted to specific zones during an outbreak?** Yes, and cleaning equipment must not be shared between outbreak and non-outbreak zones.\n\n**What must be documented for each outbreak cleaning intervention?** Zone, date, time, products used (including ARTG number, dilution, and batch/lot number), dwell time achieved, staff name, and supervisor sign-off.\n\n**When is a gastro outbreak considered over?** When all cases have been symptom-free for 72 hours.\n\n**Does Realcorp use subcontractors for outbreak cleaning?** No — all staff are directly employed.",
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