Sydney woman offered special care before her death

The family of twin removalists who contracted Covid-19 were offered quarantine rooms before their mother died of the virus, it has been revealed.

Health authorities have revealed the family of a Sydney woman who died from Covid-19 was offered special health accommodation when she was diagnosed but turned it down.

Saeeda Akobi Jjou Stu, 57, was the mother of twin removalists, Roni and Ramsin Shawka, 27, who have been charged by police for allegedly working while infectious with coronavirus.

The woman is the fifth person to die from coronavirus during Sydney’s latest outbreak.

Her body was found inside her Green Valley home in the city’s southwest on Monday.

Saeeda Akobi Jjou Stu, of Green Valley, was 57 when she died. Picture: Facebook

Chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant confirmed on Tuesday health authorities were aware the woman had contracted the virus before she died.

“That was my understanding. Care was offered and there was care around the family,” Dr Chant told reporters.

“That family were offered care and were offered transport to an alternate facility to support them with their isolation and care … they made the decision to stay at home.

“I think it’s important to know … you can deteriorate quite quickly with Covid.”

Dr Chant said the family were otherwise supported by local health workers after declining state quarantine accommodation.

One of the twins, Roni, honoured the woman in a Facebook post on Monday.

“Mama, my love, you are my life, Mama, you are my comfort and my life, Mama,” he wrote.

Ramsin changed his profile picture to an image of his mother, which drew hundreds of comments from people praying for the woman.

“May her soul rest in peace,” several people wrote.

The woman’s congregation, based in Fairfield, posted a tribute to the woman as well.

“A candle for the deceased and pray for her, and our deepest condolences from the Chaldean Batnaya Association, Sydney, to the family of the deceased,” the social media post read.

Roni and Ramsin Shawka both posted tributes on social media to their late mother.

The twins were seen sitting in a car after being isolated by police while emergency officials worked inside the home on Monday. Picture: Nine News

NSW Police said in a statement officers responded to a concern for welfare at a home on Thursday Place, Green Valley, at 9.15am on Monday, where they found the body.

Her heartbroken twin sons, who also contracted the virus, were forced to sit in a car outside the home and isolate while emergency services remained at the scene.

NSW Health confirmed the woman was positive for Covid-19 and was a close contact of another case.

“NSW Health today sadly reports the death of a woman in her 50s who was a confirmed Covid-19 case. She was a resident of southwestern Sydney and a close contact of a Covid case,” the department said.

“This is the 61st death in NSW related to Covid-19 and the fifth of the current outbreak.

“NSW Health extends its sincere sympathy to her family and friends.”

Police cordoned off the block in Green Valley were the woman lived. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

People were told to isolate in cars while the emergency officials worked. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Police announced on Saturday they had charged three removalists – the twin brothers, aged 27, and a man aged 21 – after they allegedly travelled to western NSW despite knowing they had the virus.

The men have blamed the incident on a language barrier and believed they had followed health advice.

They said one of the men had received their positive result when they were already in Orange.

NSW has recorded more than 1300 local coronavirus infections since an airport driver first tested positive in mid-June.

There have been 914 total confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in Australia since the pandemic first hit the country.