Coronavirus Australia: Death toll increases at Newmarch House

There is increasing concern about a major coronavirus cluster in NSW after another death was recorded, bringing the total to 13.

Another resident of the Newmarch aged care home in Western Sydney has died after contracting coronavirus, the facility’s thirteenth COVID-19 related death.

Anglicare Sydney has released a statement saying it was deeply saddened by the death on Thursday afternoon, and extended its deepest sympathies to the family.

It is NSW’s 43rd coronavirus death, taking the national toll to 92.

“The coronavirus has had a devastating impact on all our residents and families as well as our staff over the last three weeks”, the statement said.

Pictured is an ambulance leaving Anglicare's Newmarch House nursing home at Caddens in western Sydney. Picture: Richard Dobson

On Thursday, another three Newmarch residents were identified as positive for coronavirus.

A total of 34 residents and 22 staff members at the home have tested positive to the coronavirus.

Anglicare said the latest cases came despite “having strict procedures and enforced infection control practices in place”.

“These new cases may reflect historical transmissions and reflect the rigorous and ongoing testing at Newmarch House. We will be investigating further how this has occurred.”

The statement also said the home has been able to turn more attention to communicating with families, and window-visits were proving successful.

Pictured at Newmarch Nursing Home at Caddens in Sydney is Mary Watson who was allowed to visit her mother after Anglicare granted her and some others access for a half-hour visit. The care home has had 11 COVID-19 related deaths. Picture: Richard Dobson

The aged care home has emerged as a major coronavirus cluster in NSW — Australia’s worst-hit state.

Anglicare placed the home in shutdown at the end of March, leaving increasingly panicked loved ones to stand outside the gates waiting for news.

The daughter of a 93-year-old resident who tested positive told Nine Newspapers she was concerned for her mother’s wellbeing.

“They are dropping like flies. I’m terrified, absolutely terrified my mum will be a statistic in there,” she said.

Anthony Bowe’s mother is a resident at Newmarch House and is fighting coronavirus. He has been a vocal critic of the handling of the crisis from the beginning.

Pictured at Newmarch Nursing Home at Caddens in Sydney is an elderly resident being escorted by a staff member. The care home has had 11 COVID-19 related deaths. Picture: Richard Dobson

Getting information from management about how it’s handling the outbreak has been tough.

“That’s been the big issue the whole way along,” Mr Bowe told ABC’s 7.30.

“There hasn’t been a liaison between the two of us and it’s been unreliable. You might get communication one day, not communication the next. And it’s been difficult.”

The Federal Government was forced to intervene last week when it emerged that Newmarch House was significantly understaffed.

Professor Joseph Ibrahim, head of the Health Law and Ageing Research Unit at Monash University, said he’s surprised that sick residents weren’t hospitalised.

All but one of the deaths at Newmarch House have occurred on site.

“My personal opinion is that they should have been moved to a specific facility to protect the other people who don’t have the infection and, given the circumstances and how well Australia’s controlled the pandemic to date, the residents would have been better in hospital,” Professor Ibrahim told ABC News.

– With AAP