Australian COVID-19 death toll hits 21 after tenth person dies in NSW

NSW has recorded its tenth death from COVID-19, the latest fatality – the 21st nationally – follows the death of a 95-year-old woman who contracted the virus at Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care home.

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A tenth person has died from COVID-19 in NSW, bringing the national death toll from the virus to 21.

It’s understood the latest fatality occurred at the Orange Base Hospital and follows the earlier death of a 95-year-old Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care resident.

The elderly woman was the fifth person from the Macquarie Park facility to die from the virus.

The home in Sydney’s northwest is one of Sydney’s first recognised coronavirus cluster hot spots where 21 cases of the virus have now been recorded.

The cases comprise 16 residents and five staff members.

An employee cleans a room inside Dorothy Henderson Lodge today. Picture: Toby Zerna

A woman walks past the aged care home today. Picture: Jane Dempster

With the aged care home in lockdown, the number of confirmed cases in NSW on Wednesday grew to 2182 with 20 deaths recorded nationally.

The nursing home has beefed up its security with a security guard perched at the front of the driveway entrance.

The woman became the fifth resident to die of the virus at Dorothy Henderson Lodge. Picture: Toby Zerna

Internal sources told The Northern District Times recently that nurses at the nursing home were reportedly calling in sick in fear of contracting COVID-19.

It is understood some nurses employed by contractor agency Healthcare Australia, which works in partnership with Baptist Care, have refused to work at Dorothy Henderson when they were told which nursing home they were to cover.