Coronavirus NSW: Newmarch House opens emergency makeshift hospital as confirmed cases hit 41
An aged care home battling a major coronavirus outbreak in Sydney’s west has set up an emergency makeshift infectious diseases hospital after two elderly male residents died and 41 residents and staff tested positive for COVID-19.
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An aged care home battling a major coronavirus outbreak in Sydney’s west has set up an emergency makeshift infectious diseases hospital after two elderly male residents died and 27 residents and 14 staff have tested positive for COVID-19.
Managers of Anglicare’s Newmarch House near Penrith have established an on-sight hospital with the support of Nepean Hospital which dispatched infectious diseases specialists to treat residents and staff infected with the virus.
The news of the deaths of two elderly residents, aged 93 and 94, has hit the aged care worker who tested positive to the virus despite not showing symptoms.
“She is deeply distressed and blaming herself for the deaths”, a source close to the woman said.
“She did not know she had the virus and got tested as soon as she was told she had come into contact outside the home with someone who had it.
“She was dreading this happening, she is very attached to some staff and residents there, she is sick with sorry.”
The mother from western Sydney had worked five shifts over six days and is now said to have taken time off work to look after her frail parents and children living with her.
She had arrived for work feeling “fatigued,” a source revealed, but thought it was the result of juggling two jobs and home commitments.
The virus has since spread at Newmarch which is home to over 100 residents.
Managers have stepped up restrictions and support at the home and brought in more intensive supports under the direction of hospital specialists.
Anglicare has also drafted in more staff to ensure residents’ needs are met as well as recruiting staff specifically dedicated to working with residents who have tested positive.
They are being treated in their homes.
Last week the part time care worker was indirectly criticised by Health Minister Brad Hazzard who implored people not to go to work if they are unwell, especially if they work in aged care.
“Unfortunately, the potential is disastrous consequences if you’re working with some of our most vulnerable people,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The simple message here is if you’re working at an aged care facility, you are working with some of our most vulnerable people in (the) community, please just don’t go.”
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was important not to cast blame before the facts had been established.
“Obviously it’s of huge concern and very disappointing if someone who has the disease keeps working,” she said.
“We can’t cast blame automatically, let’s wait for the facts. What if the person did not know that they had it. That’s a concern.”
Newmarch home executives moved to reassure families of residents it was doing all possible to halt the spread of the disease.
“We are implementing a process whereby the person responsible for each resident will be contacted via phone regularly and given an update,” Chief Executive Officer Grant Millard told relatives in an email sent yesterday.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family that have lost a loved one. We would also ask that you not only keep in your prayers all the residents and families in Newmarch but also the staff working around the clock to provide care and ongoing support during this challenging and difficult time.”