Coronavirus Australia: COVID focus returns to aged care homes
An aged care worker has trsted positive to coronavirus, the latest in the growing number of people to catch the illness after eating at the Thai Rock restaraunt.
NSW
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A toddler has contracted COVID-19 in Port Stephens as the virus spreads in the Hunter region.
Nine News reported a text message was sent to parents of Good Start Anna Bay child care telling them the toddler had tested positive and the centre would be closed for cleaning.
It comes after a Sydney man in his 20s infected a friend at Port Stephens while visiting on July 13, forcing a local shopping centre into high alert and the closure of two pubs.
It’s been confirmed the Sydney case was one of 11 people infected via the Thai Rock Restaurant cluster. The local man in his 60s is now in isolation.
Meanwhile, a staff member at an Inner West aged care facility has tested positive to COVID-19 after dining at the virus-hit Thai Rock Restaurant.
The staff member at Ashfield Baptist Homes tested positive after catching the infection at the Wetherill Park restaurant.
It is understood the risk for infection is low because the positive case wore masks, gloves and gowns but staff and residents are being tested.
“The risk to other staff and residents is considered to be very low as the staff member wore masks, gloves and gowns when working with residents and did not work while symptomatic,” a statement from Sydney Local Health District said.
“Ashfield Baptist Homes is closed to all visitors pending test results.”
It comes as coronavirus outbreaks at aged care facilities in Melbourne have continued to surge, with 383 cases and 13 deaths now linked to the vulnerable facilities.
Authorities are battling to contain multiple clusters as staff and residents continue to contribute to Victoria’s rising infection figures.
St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner recorded 18 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the cluster up to 69.
There are also now 54 infections linked to Estia Health in Ardeer, 37 to Glendale Aged Care facility in Werribee and 30 cases attributed to Arcare Aged Care in Craigieburn.
All 383 cases are spread across 45 separate sites.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday said work was now underway to help facilities manage the outbreaks.
“Aged care is a really challenging setting, particularly private sector aged care,” he said.
“Whether it’s face masks, cohorting workers or taking residents who can’t be appropriately cared for in place to a tertiary hospital.
“All of those steps. They will bring a sense of control.”
Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer Michael Kidd said it was vital people with symptoms stay home.
“This is essential for everyone and especially for those working in settings with people who are most at risk of COVID-19, which includes people working in residential aged care and people providing home care services to elderly people,” he said.
“This virus is highly contagious and as we have seen from the continuing rise in infections and the rising number of people being hospitalised and dying, we must all remain vigilant, we must not let our guard down.”
SECOND SOUTH COAST CLUB SHUTS
A second south coast club has shut its doors temporarily after a number of people who visited the club have tested positive to COVID-19.
Club Malua, which was severely damaged from the New Year’s Eve Clyde Mountain bushfire, has been told by NSW Health that people who have tested positive to the virus visited the club on July, 7, 8 and 12.
Cabra Bowls Group said the club will remain closed for 14 days as per the recommended guidelines.
“This being the case, Cabra Bowls Group have made the decision to close the club and the bowling greens effective immediately. A deep clean of the premises will be outsourced to a certified cleaning company at the very earliest availability,” Cabra Bowls Group said in a statement on Club Malua’s social media.
SINGLETON TIP CLOSED FOR DEEP CLEANING
A rubbish tip in Singleton was forced to shut today and staff sent home after a worker may have been in contact with a confirmed case.
Singleton Council said the waste management facility will be deep cleaned, and that other council facilities are not impacted.
“The staff member became aware of potential exposure this morning and immediately informed Council’s senior staff,” a statement said.
“The only time the staff member has been at work since the possible contact was briefly this morning.”
Due to possible contact by a staff member with a person who has tested positive to COVID-19 in a personal circumstance, Council has made the decision to close the Waste Management Facility effective immediately.
— Singleton Council (@Singleton_NSW) July 22, 2020
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VENUES ON HOTSPOT LIST LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS
NSW Health continues to place licensed premises in Sydney on a hotspot list more than 14 days after punters had visited and later tested positive to COVID-19.
Sydney’s Star Casino, the Canterbury Leagues Club, Villawood’s Zone Bowling and Wetherill Park’s Stockland Mall all remained on NSW Health’s confirmed COVID-19 case locations website on Tuesday, well past the two week period deemed long enough for returning overseas travellers to be quarantined.
It has been at least 17 days since all the venues were visited by a customer who later tested positive, while Zone Bowling is still listed by NSW Health 24 days later.
Anyone who has visited those venues at the time the infected person attended are advised to watch for coronavirus symptoms and if they occur, to isolate and get tested for COVID-19 immediately.
On Tuesday the Star confirmed it had not received any update from health officials about why it remains on the list of COVID-19 areas of concern.
Last week the Pyrmont casino offered CCTV footage to the state government department after a man in his 20s who visited the premises on July 4 tested positive to COVID-19.
But NSW Health declined to use security footage to help trace punters who may have had contact with the coronavirus-infected man for “privacy reasons.”
The man attended The Star on July 4 between 8pm and 10.30pm and then went to the Canterbury Leagues Club between 11pm and 1am.
NSW chief medical officer Dr Kerry Chant said authorities were uncertain whether he was infectious while he visited the venues as he was not displaying symptoms.
Originally published as Coronavirus Australia: COVID focus returns to aged care homes
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