Coronavirus: ‘Care homes in danger’ as rules eased

Nursing homes are becoming the ‘new front line’ in the nation’s battle against COVID-19.

Nursing homes are becoming the “new frontline” in the nation’s battle against COVID-19 and the risk vulnerable residents face is exacerbated by the winding back of ­social-distancing rules, a leading provider group has warned.

On the day another resident of the Newmarch House nursing home in Sydney died and four Victorian aged-care facilities were in various stages of coronavirus lockdown, Aged and Community Services CEO Patricia Sparrow said further outbreaks in nursing homes were unavoidable “unless the entire community takes this seriously’’. “Aged care is the new frontline. This is where our most vulnerable live. As general restrictions in the community are lifted this will increase the risk to those in residential nursing homes,” Ms Sparrow said. “This is everyone’s business. It takes as little as one person, who may not even know they have the virus, entering a ­facility to start an outbreak. This next period will be crucial.”

Australia’s 100th coronavirus-related death, that of Alice Bacon, a 93-year-old resident of Newmarch House, was confirmed on Tuesday. She was the 19th person to die at the facility. She first tested positive for the virus on April 24 as the home went into lockdown.

Three more Melbourne nursing homes are now in lockdown, bringing the current total to four.

A resident of the Lynden Aged Care facility in Camberwell tested positive for the virus, Victoria’s Health Department confirmed on Tuesday. “Residents and families are all being informed and we’re working closely with the facility to ensure … isolation, quarantine, cleaning and contact tracing,” the department said.

Another case of COVID-19 was initially identified in a resident of the Hammond Care facility in Caulfield. “A subsequent test has come back negative,” DHHS said. “Even when a subsequent test comes back negative the case is still managed as though it is a positive. Both facilities remain closed to visitors for 14 days.’’

The two cases follow an inconclusive test in a resident at the Villa Maria Aged Care facility in Bundoora on Monday, which was followed by a negative test. The facility remains in lockdown. A fourth home, MiCare Overbeek Lodge in Kilsyth, also went into lockdown on Tuesday, awaiting test results on a resident.