Parts of Sydney, NSW not allowed to visit aged care homes on Father’s Day

Premier Gladys Berejiklian says she feels “horrible” that some people won’t be able to visit their dads for Father’s Day due to new virus advice.

Gladys Berejiklian says she feels horrible some people in at-risk areas won’t be able to visit their family in aged care facilities this Father’s Day. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

People in some parts of NSW have been told they cannot visit their dads in aged care this Father’s Day because the CBD cluster is still being brought under control.

NSW Health confirmed on Friday that their advice for residents from Sydney Metropolitan, Nepean Blue Mountains and Central Coast regions would be to not visit aged care facilities at the weekend.

People have been wearing masks and face shields in Sydney. Photographer: Adam Yip

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she was “as disappointed as anybody” about it.

“I'm as disappointed as anybody to get that health advice but I can’t overturn the health advice. We did have hopes … I feel horrible about that,” she said.

“It would be inappropriate for me to overrule the health advice, especially if, heaven forbid, this disease got into one of our aged care facilities.

Cleaners cleaning at a childcare centre after a worker linked to the CBD cluster tested positive. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“What the health department have asked, is each aged care facility consider appropriate ways they can improve the stress, whether they allow them to come to glass windows or to make technology available for families to communicate with each other.

“The health concerns is there still could be undetected circulation within the community … because of that seeding potential, health have decided to take conservative and safe approach and I have to support that.”

NSW Health said that the decision had been reached after “careful consideration”.

“This decision has been reached after careful consideration of the risks of COVID-19 being introduced into an aged care facility while the CBD cluster is brought under control,” it said in a statement.

The decision to stop visits on Father’s Day in certain areas comes after a major outbreak occurred at Newmarch House earlier this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

“While we understand and acknowledge this will be difficult for many families on Father’s Day, our priority is to prevent the spread of the virus to the most vulnerable people in the community.

“We encourage people to make the best of the COVID safe measures the aged care sector has put in place to make contact with their loved ones, including through audio visual links and window visits.”

The announcement comes after the state recorded eight new cases of COVID-19 on Friday.