Dorothy Henderson Lodge: third resident dies as nurses reportedly fear going to work
The nursing home at the epicentre of a coronavirus outbreak in Sydney’s north was quiet on Monday after a third resident died at the weekend - as sources say nurses were calling up sick in fear of contracting COVID-19.
Northern District Times
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The nursing home in the epicentre of a coronavirus outbreak in Sydney’s north was quiet on Monday after a third resident who contracted the virus died at the weekend.
It comes as sources say nurses were calling up sick in fear of contracting COVID-19.
A 90-year-old resident at Dorothy Henderson Lodge died on Saturday taking the death toll to three at the Macquarie Park nursing home.
Two other residents, an 82-year-old man and 95-year old woman, both died after contracting coronavirus earlier this month.
On Monday afternoon, nurses and doctors continued going in and out of the nursing home and neighbouring facilities in the Baptist Care complex.
Two residents were seen peering out their curtains donning masks and appeared to be in self-isolation.
The nursing home has also beefed up its security with a security guard perched at the front of the driveway entrance. It is understood another security guard was to work the night shift until 6am.
Internal sources told The Northern District Times 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.
An 89-year-old man who lives in Willandra Village, also in the Baptist Care complex, said he was not scared but took precautions such as avoiding eating lunch in the onsite restaurant.
The resident who asked not to be named said he also washed his hands, carried hand sanitiser and practiced social distancing.
“So far there’s not been any at Willandra. But if the first one starts they will have to be on high alert,” he said.
On Monday NSW Health minister Brad Hazzard told the public to practice social distancing and to avoid visiting elderly persons if you’re sick.
“As community members if you’re not feeling well you may not have COVID-19 but don’t visit elderly residents who might be more vulnerable,” he told reporters.
“You don’t want them to get a respiratory illness and making them more vulnerable to the possibility of COVID.”
Minister Hazzard said there would be fines of $55,000 for those who hold functions of more than 500 people under emergency provisions of the Public Health Act.
A second order required anyone who entered Australia from overseas to go into 14-self quarantine.
“Both of those orders are designed to make sure we minimise the spread as much as possible,” he said.
The total number of positive cases at the nursing home is now ten, of that including six residents and four staff members.
Baptist Care has been approached for comment.