Coronavirus Yarra Ranges: Kilsyth Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes outbreak
Elderly residents at a Kilsyth nursing home are being immediately evacuated, with the provider saying it “deeply regrets” not being able to prevent the intrusion of coronavirus.
Outer East
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A Kilsyth nursing home will be evacuated after cases linked to an outbreak have reached more than 70.
Infections at Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes are now at 76 — an increase of 73 cases since three cases were first confirmed on Friday, July 24.
The aged care provider was advised by the Victorian Department Health and Human Services that residents would be evacuated immediately from its Mt Dandenong Rd centre and transported to various hospitals in the region.
Presbyterian Church of Victoria moderator Colin Morrow said the aged care provider fully endorsed the DHHS resolve to protect all Victorians in the pandemic.
“Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes deeply regrets that in spite of our best efforts, we have not
been able to prevent the intrusion of COVID-19 into our aged care facility at Kilsyth,” Mr Morrow said.
“ … we are doing everything in our power to co-operate with the department in the transfer
of our residents.”
He was the welfare of the residents and staff was of the utmost importance.
“We appreciate the stress this is placing on the families of our residents and we are working
strenuously to keep people fully informed and to provide them with all the support we can.,” Mr Morrow said.
The Department of Health and Human Services has reported the outbreak is one of seven outbreaks at Melbourne nursing homes with high numbers of cases.
Across the state numbers rose by 384 overnight with a total of 4774 active cases.
Last week nursing home manager Mark Sketcher said the department was co-ordinating the response to the outbreak and all residents had been confined to their bedrooms.
“We’re in lockdown and all staff are in full PPE for infection control,” Mr Sketcher said.
“All residents and staff were tested yesterday and we’re waiting on results.”
Mr Sketcher said the Department are aware of the source and was contact tracing.
“It’s difficult for residents who like to be up and about with their neighbours and sharing meal time but none of that is possible at the moment,” he said.
“Everyone has a phone in their rooms so families can keep in contact that way.”
He said staff were also contacting families daily to keep them informed of the situation, and no-one was allowed to visit the home.
A department spokeswoman confirmed there were three cases but were unable to say whether it was staff or residents who were sick.
She said the home would undergo deep cleaning and contact tracing was being done.
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