Melbourne Covid-19: St Basils, Epping Gardens among worst aged care homes for Covid

Shocking data reveals 83 people, the equivalent of almost four footy teams, have died from Covid at two aged care centres alone since the start of the pandemic.

Several residents have died of COVID-19 at Epping Gardens Aged Care facility. Photograph by Paul Jeffers The Australian 30 July 2020

More than two years into the pandemic, nearly half of all Victorian Covid deaths have occurred at aged care centres.

It was January 25, 2020, when Australia recorded its first case of Covid - but the tragic reality of the virus was revealed to Victorians when two aged care centres experienced serious outbreaks in Melbourne’s second wave.

Those aged care centres, St Basils in Fawkner and Epping Gardens in Epping, saw 45 and 38 residents die respectively.

According to the latest Commonwealth data, there are more than 7000 active cases in aged care homes in Australia among residents, and more than 11,000 cases among staff.

A significant amount of those cases are in Victorian aged care, with Fronditha Aged Care in Clayton a significant concern, where five residents have died.

Despite St Basils and Epping Gardens being the centre of a Federal Government report, they represent less than 100 of 809 total deaths that have occurred in Victorian aged care.

Of the 1814 deaths experienced in the state, 809 deaths have occurred in aged care - more than 40 per cent.

The biggest outbreak has occurred at Baptcare Wyndham in Werribee, which has seen a total of 301 infections, of which 131 were staff members, and 30 deaths.

Estia Aged Care in Ardeer has recorded 17 deaths and 197 infections, and Kirkbrae Aged Care in Kilsyth has recorded a total of 21 deaths and 156 infections.