Grief for devoted grandma hits as bush braces for worst
Orange grandmother Janet Lieben died a solitary death from the coronavirus in a country hospital ICU cubicle, with her infected husband locked in isolation doors away. Regional hospitals — many without ICUs — are bracing to treat more cases like hers. SEE WHICH HOSPITALS HAVE INTENSIVE CARE.
NSW
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Devoted grandmother Janet Lieben died a solitary death from the coronavirus in a country hospital ICU cubicle, with her infected husband locked in isolation doors away.
The revelation of the 67-year-old’s heartbreaking demise comes as hospitals in regional centres across NSW continue to brace for COVID-19 to hit the country, as health experts turn their focus on local transmission.
“He was absolutely distraught, he’s inconsolable,” an Orange Base Hospital source said of Ms Lieben’s husband Jerry.
“He couldn’t comfort her, he’s sick himself with the virus, there was nothing he could do but let her go. It’s broken his heart.”
Effervescent retired factory worker Janet and Jerry, a retired senior non-commissioned officer with the Australian Army, had been on the coronavirus-hit Ruby Princess cruise that docked at Sydney Harbour after an 11-day round trip to NZ.
They were ordered into self-isolation at their home in Blayney in NSW’s central west on March 19.
It is not clear when they both began to feel unwell.
They had been on an international reunion cruise with Jerry’s former work colleagues organised by the Air Dispatch Association Australia for 23 other Australians and members from Britain, New Zealand and America.
A number of Australians in the party are battling the virulent virus, some gravely ill in hospital.
“I spoke with Jerry two days ago and he was very worried about Janet. He said he couldn’t wait to get rid of the virus and visit Janet.
“When we spoke he had a rasping voice and tight chest, typical symptoms of the coronavirus, he was not well but I understand he has recently improved,” said ADAA President Nick Nicolai, a retired army member who was on board the cruise ship.
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“Jerry is an ex-Vietnam veteran and Janet was a vibrant, wonderful woman and was very healthy.
“We’re a very tight-knit community — Janet’s death has affected us all,” he said.
“A number of Australians in our group have got the virus and are in various forms of recovery, from fine to not very well at all and in hospital,” he added.
The Western New South Wales Local Health District has confirmed Ms Lieben died from complications related to COVID-19 overnight on Wednesday, taking the total number of NSWe deaths to 10 and raising the country’s COVID-19 mortality rate to 24.
“Sadly, a patient died … in Orange Base Hospital from COVID-19,” NSW Health said on Thursday.
“There have now been 10 deaths in NSW, including this death. NSW Health passes on our condolences to the family of this patient.”
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The department confirmed that Orange Base Hospital was among about 20 public and private hospitals outside Sydney with accredited Intensive Care Units, along with other major facilities in Dubbo, Bathurst and Tamworth.
Each Local Health District also has a tertiary referral network so people needing specific critical care can be accommodated in larger hospitals if needed.
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the 5500 ventilators the federal government commissioned Sydney-based company ResMed to produce would ensure there were sufficient resources for regional areas.
The total number of coronavirus cases in NSW rose by 116 to 2298 in the 24 hours to 8pm on Wednesday, with 2331 people receiving treatment as of Thursday.
At least 43 patients were in intensive care, including about 20 who required ventilators. Mrs Lieben’s death comes after NSW recorded the death of a 95-year-old resident of the Dorothy Henderson Lodge, who passed away at the virus-hit aged care facility in Sydney during the early hours of Wednesday.
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