‘Catastrophic’ wave of aged-care deaths

More than 100 people in residential aged care died of Covid-19 in the week leading up to Christmas.

Opposition aged care spokeswoman Anne Ruston labelled the latest Covid wave ripping through the sector as ‘catastrophic’ and demanded more action to address the crisis. Picture: Martin Ollman

More than 100 people in residential aged care died of Covid-19 in the week leading up to Christmas, prompting the opposition to call for the Prime Minister to “urgently step in” and reinstate “Operation Covid-shield” and provide free PCR testing for all Australians.

The figures – released by the Department of Health – revealed 102 people had died in aged care in the seven days leading to December 23 and 3936 positive cases had been recorded.

Opposition aged care spokeswoman Anne Ruston labelled the latest Covid wave ripping through the sector as “catastrophic” and demanded more action to address the crisis.

“The Labor government must immediately implement all measures to protect older Australians instead of scrapping supports that kept them safe,” she said. “The Labor government must reinstate the world-leading Operation Covid Shield task-force and maintain free, accessible Covid PCR tests, especially to encourage Australians to comply with Covid-19 testing in the community and when visiting aged care ­facilities.”

But Aged Care Minister Anika Wells said the government was doing all it could to address the issue. “The Albanese government has moved quickly to prepare for Covid waves, supplying personal protective equipment, rapid antigen tests, and other supports to aged care homes and continuing access to the surge workforce with additional workforce ready to be activated,” she said.

“We are also prioritising fourth dose vaccinations for Australians over the age of 50 and providing access to lifesaving oral antiviral treatments.”

Ms Wells said the community “must remain vigilant” and work together to protect older Australians most at risk of developing serious illness. “We urge everyone to remember CovidSafe basics when visiting older people. Make sure your vaccinations are up to date, wash your hands, wear a mask, hold your visits outdoors and reschedule if you feel unwell,” she said.

So far, more than 80 per cent of aged care residents have received their fourth dose of a Covid vaccine. The government has also given providers access to emergency supplies of antiviral medications from the National Medical Stockpile where local pharmacy supplies are not available.

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly last week wrote to all aged care providers urging them to follow the standards over the Christmas period including regular testing of staff and residents and continuing mask wearing mandates for visitors and those working at the facilities.

“If we are careful, we can minimise the spread of Covid-19 over the holiday season and make things as safe as possible for older Australians,” Professor Kelly said in the letter.

The government earlier this month released its Covid-19 health management plan for 2023, which revealed some free PCR tests would require referrals and that subsidised visits to psychologists would be slashed from 20 to 10 per person.

Anthony Albanese reiterated that PCR tests would “still be very much available to people who are immunocompromised and to people who are vulnerable”, including those in aged care, with the Department of Health confirming PCR tests without referrals would still be available at state-run clinics.

Aged care advocates and peak bodies such as the Australian Medical Association have urged for the continuation of supports for the aged care sector “well into next year” to give facilities certainty they could continue to manage Covid waves.