Royal Freemasons Benalla retirement home in lockdown

A retirement home in the Goulburn Valley has been placed into lockdown after staff members visited an exposure site.

Royal Freemasons Benalla has been placed into lockdown. P

A Goulburn Valley retirement home has been placed into lockdown after staff members visited a tier one exposure site.

Royal Freemasons Benalla management were told on Wednesday two of their staff were primary and secondary close contacts of someone who attended BP Euroa on May 24 between 5pm and 6pm.

In a statement, the organisation said none of their staff or residents had tested positive for Covid and the lockdown was a “precaution”.

The spokesperson said most residents living at the Benalla site had also been vaccinated.

“For the safety of residents, staff and families we have initiated full Covid precautionary outbreak procedures at the home while we await the return of precautionary testing results,” the statement said.

“This means that all residents will be self-isolating in their rooms and staff are now wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE).

“Royal Freemasons has sufficient personal protective equipment and all other supplies necessary to continue to provide support and services to the residents and staff.

“Please be assured that, at this time, we have no staff or residents who have tested positive to Covid and/or have any signs or symptoms.

“We are closely monitoring all residents and staff for signs and symptoms.

“As you can imagine, this is a stressful time for all our staff, residents and their families and as such have put in place communication and support services to ensure all are supported during this time.”

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