One third of SA aged-care homes now battling Covid-19 outbreaks

Dozens of South Australian aged-care homes are battling Covid outbreaks as Omicron surges through facilities, new figures show. Search by aged care home to see the cases.

Dozens of South Australian nursing homes are battling Covid-19 outbreaks as Omicron surges through more aged-care facilities, new figures show.

Latest Commonwealth data shows 81 facilities, or almost a third of the state’s homes, are grappling with surges, after spreading to 17 more homes in the past fortnight.

Currently, 30 per cent of SA’s 270 aged-care facilities have outbreaks – defined as at least one infectious resident or two ill staff.

The details emerged as SA Health reported record numbers of patients in hospital with Covid and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese not ruling out changes to isolation rules.

Similar numbers of homes had outbreaks a month ago but the rate is significantly down on those experienced in late April when 117 facilities were in some form of lockdown.

The number of sick residents infected with Covid has risen by two thirds in the past two weeks – from 188 to 319 on Friday, according to the federal Department of Health.

More staff have also fallen ill – rising from 148 on July 8 to 228 a week later.

National cabinet agreed at the weekend to investigate extending Australian Defence Force support to the aged-care sector which is due to end early next month.

An ADF spokeswoman would not reveal the homes where troops had visited.

“Defence provides personnel to support aged care facilities across all states and territories as determined by the Department of Health,” she said.

“Defence continues to work with the Department of Health to support requests where appropriate.”

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