Coronavirus deaths at Parramatta, Westmead aged care homes

The staggering number of Covid cases at a western Sydney aged care centre - which recorded NSW’s first Omicron death - have been revealed amid criticism over inadequate testing.

A total of 56 residents and 19 workers have been infected with Covid at North Parramatta’s Lilian Wells Residential Aged Care home, where NSW’s first known Omicron death was recorded in December.

The figure of infected residents equates to 82 per cent, with 68 residents housed at the Fennell St home.

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) of the 80 employees there have tested positive.

A double-vaccinated man in his 80s became the first fatality of the Omicron strain on Christmas Day when he died at Westmead Hospital, where he was transferred after contracting the virus at the home.

The second resident, a woman in her 80s, died on New Year’s Eve and was also double-vaccinated and had underlying health conditions.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the resident’s family and loved ones at this difficult time, and also with our team at Lilian Wells who supported and cared for the resident,’’ a spokeswoman for Uniting, which operates the aged care centre, said.

The Covid-stricken Uniting Lilian Wells aged care centre at North Parramatta. Picture: Google Maps

“Our thoughts are also with the other residents, families and staff of Lillian Wells who are experiencing this outbreak.’’

But the spokeswoman warned the outbreak — which saw numbers spike to 35,054 on Wednesday, could grow unless proper testing was rolled out.

“We are seeing multiple exposures and outbreaks in aged care across the state,’’ she said.

“The failure of the healthcare system to prioritise PCR testing and other public health support measures to the residential aged care sector will result in increased risks to residents and staff, as we will have to rely on less effective rapid antigen testing and Covid-19 symptom responses to manage this new and far larger wave of Covid-19 infections.’’

She said all employees and “a high number of residents’’ were fully vaccinated and residents were being isolated and socially distance where possible.

Families are restricted from visiting loved ones but visits can proceed in “end-of-life situations”.

“Visiting will recommence when the outbreak is deemed closed by the Public Health Unit,’’ the spokeswoman said.

At Westmead, Omicron claimed the life of a woman in her 90s at Bolton Clarke’s Cabrini Aged Care Facility on Sunday. It was the first death linked to an outbreak at the facility.

A woman in her 90s died from Covid at Cabrini, Westmead.

Bolton Clarke’s executive general manager of care, innovation and quality, Wendy Zernike, said the resident was receiving care in her room as part of precautionary measures and died before positive Covid-19 test results were received from a routine swab test.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of a resident who was receiving end-of-life care at our Cabrini community at Westmead,’’ she said.

“The safety and wellbeing of our residents continues to be our first priority. We are closely monitoring all residents and all remain well.’’

Compared with Lilian Wells, the virus is more contained at Cabrini.

A total of eight Cabrini employees tested positive for Covid-19, and residents have tested negative.

“All employees were fully vaccinated, had been wearing PPE and cohorting in designated areas,’’ the spokeswoman said.

“Our teams are experienced in infection prevention and control procedures and remain focused on the safety and wellbeing of all residents.’’

Cabrini will reopen to visitors on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Parramatta local government area recorded 4668 cases but the number was almost double in Cumberland where there are 8324 active cases.

Across NSW, an overwhelming 35,054 cases and eight deaths were reported overnight, with 6542 and 5989 cases from the southwest and western Sydney local health districts respectively.

Five people had received two doses of a Covid vaccine, two people were unvaccinated, and one person had received three doses of a vaccine.

From Monday, children aged five to 11 will be eligible for a vaccine, which will be a third the amount of the adult dose.

People aged 18 years and over are eligible for a booster if they had their second dose at least four months ago.

There are 1491 Covid-infected cases admitted to hospital, with 119 people in intensive care, 32 of whom require ventilation.

A NSW Health spokeswoman said aged care was a federal responsibility.

“NSW Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health have a joint protocol to support the management of Covid-19 cases or outbreaks in residential aged care facilities that ensures the clinical and welfare needs of residents are paramount.

“NSW Health is working with the Commonwealth to ensure consistency and clarity of guidelines for workers in NSW residential aged care facilities who have been exposed to Covid-19.’’

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