Third Covid wave breaks into Infinite Care and Tully and District Nursing Home aged care facilities

Covid has begun to run through Far North aged care facilities again as health officials warn the third wave is about to get worse. FIND OUT WHICH ONES

COVID has begun to run through Far North aged care facilities again as health officials warn the virus’ third wave is about to get worse.

About three aged care centres in the Far North have reported outbreaks from data collected on July 8.

Infinite Care Caravonica Waters has six staff cases, Infinite Care Edmonton Gardens has four resident and four staff cases and Tully and District Nursing Home has two residents and one staff who have contracted the virus.

Tully and District Nursing Home clinical nurse Rexy Roni said everyone infected was fully vaccinated.

Far North aged cares have begun to get more cases. Picture: Istock.

“What we do is we isolate those two residents in their rooms. The staff wear full PPE when they go inside the rooms and when they come out they take care,” she said.

“They follow hand hygiene carefully, all the information is on the wards so they know.

“In the ward where there are Covid cases we make sure they where n95 masks.”

Ms Roni said the Tully centre had some cases a few weeks ago but they were contained.

“At the moment we are welcoming visitors,” she said.

“It’s just two cases but we will let visitors know there are cases so they can be more vigilant.

“We will continue with the screening process.”

While some aged care facilities are yet to have an outbreak in the latest wave they are definitely preparing for the worst.

Covid has started to run through aged care homes.

“This new wave of Covid — from what we’ve been told — is going to spread quickly so we are pretty well prepared for the onslaught that may or may not happen,” Warrina Innisfail Nursing Home vice president Kevin Bliss said.

“We are doing absolutely everything in our power to keep our residents safe because we love them almost as much as family does.”

Mr Bliss said they are not restricting visitors but there are protocols in place.

“You can’t just go out and visit, you have to have a RAT test in the outside reception area, when it’s cleared you then type in who you have to see, then before you go into the building you must wear a mask and shield,” he said.

“You can’t take it off while you are there. The guidelines we get from the federal government, we follow them religiously.

Infinite Care was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Third Covid wave breaks into Infinite Care and Tully and District Nursing Home aged care facilities