Coronavirus Australia: Aged care staff implored not to go to work sick

The NSW health minister has pleaded with people not to go to work sick after it emerged a nurse worked at a Sydney aged care facility while feeling unwell.

The New South Wales health minister has hit out at aged care workers after it emerged a Sydney nurse went to work for six days while feeling unwell and has since tested positive for coronavirus.

The nurse worked at Anglicare Newmarch House in Caddens and a resident has now tested positive while another resident is awaiting test results.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard made the revelation today while urging health workers or anyone dealing with vulnerable people “please don’t go to work” if they are feeling sick.

“No doubt she thought she was doing the right thing. Unfortunately, she wasn't doing the right thing,” Mr Hazzard said this afternoon. “The message is if you are unwell, don’t go to work”.

Anglicare Sydney said in a statement that it was informed on Saturday night that the staff member had tested positive for COVID-19.

“All residents in the home are in self-isolation in their own rooms,” the statement said. “All staff have been directed to wear full personal protective equipment when caring for residents. Staff who have been in close contact with either the resident or affected staff member are self-isolating at home, self-monitoring for symptoms, and will be tested if they show any symptoms.”

Anglicare says the families of all residents have been contacted. Staff who have been specially trained working with COVID-19 will now work solely with the resident who has tested positive.

“Anglicare is working closely with the NSW Public Health Unit to identify further cases of COVID-19,” the statement said.

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Aged care homes have proven to be hot spots for coronavirus infections in the state with several elderly residents dying.

Six people have died at the BaptistCare Dorothy Henderson Lodge home in Macquarie Park in Sydney’s north.

Mr Hazzard said there were “disastrous consequences” if you went to work feeling unwell.

“We have talked about this numerous times, but now it appears some staff are still going to work, even when they have flu-like symptoms,” Mr Hazzard said.

“The message is don't go to work if you are unwell. If you are working in an aged care facility and working with the most vulnerable people in the state, if you are feeling ill, don't go to work.

“There will be disastrous consequences if you are working with some of the most vulnerable people. Please don't go to work if you are feeling sick. Just don't go.”

Six residents have died at the BaptistCare Dorothy Henderson Lodge aged care home in Sydney’s north. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

NSW Health acting director Dr Christine Selvey revealed a list of coronavirus hot spots in the state where residents were being urged to get tested for COVID-19 if they felt ill.

“Yesterday we met with staff from all of the local health districts and we identified some new areas where we want to make sure that there is a large amount of testing happening,” Dr Selvey said.

“These are areas where there have been few cases with people where we are unable to find out where they got their infection from and some other areas where we are concerned that if the spread of the virus was occurring, we would certainly want to know about that everywhere.”

Residents of the Liverpool, Blacktown, Cumberland, Inner West, Waverley, Woollahra, Randwick and Ryde local government areas in Sydney as well as the western Sydney suburb of Westmead are being asked to remain vigilant.

The same advice is in place for the Manning and Lake Macquarie areas close to Newcastle.

“In these areas, if they have even very mild symptoms, (patients are advised to) present to their GP or to one of the COVID-19 clinics or to a hospital and seek testing.”

The NSW Government today announced only nine people were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. However, there were two further deaths from the Ruby Princess cruise ship bringing the death toll on the boat to 17.