Covid-19 runs rampant through aged care homes as death toll spikes on Downs

Being diagnosed with a life-threatening illness while your children sit at home waiting to hear if you have survived is a reality for vulnerable residents in Tooowomba.

As the death toll continues to rise amid a renewed Omicron wave washing over the Darling Downs, the immunocompromised community is being forced into prolonged isolation.

In the past 24 hours, three additional Covid-related deaths were reported, taking the toll to 86, and 86 active cases were under HHS care in the region.

A Darling Downs Health spokesperson said there were 70 patients in their hospitals with Covid, one of which was in ICU.

Toowoomba and Western Queensland Greens branch spokeswoman Alyce Nelligan said as she watched cases rise again, it was infuriating seeing people not taking simple, non-invasive actions like wearing a mask or getting their boosters, especially as she was immunocompromised.

Alyce Nelligan, pictured with daughter Alessandra, said she has been in isolation for the past seven months, reliving Groundhog day with limited socialisation.

“I have a rare genetic illness which causes me to have lung dysfunction,” Ms Nelligan said.

“So, for someone like me getting Covid, those risk factors are very, very high that I would need a hospital bed and very intense medical intervention.

“Everyone’s accepted the narrative that we just have to live with Covid, and now we’re accepting the deaths that come with that.

“It’s a real shift that some of us are just basically expendible and no measures need to be taken … we don’t care about our community, our fellow people.”

Ms Nelligan said she had been living in isolation for the past seven months, resulting in limited socialisation and only being able to engage with her workplace virtually.

“It’s quite a large sector of our community that are being affected by this, and to be stuck in a situation where I’m basically living Groundhog Day, day after day, because (people aren’t) taking steps,” Ms Nelligan said.

Alyce Nelligan is fed up with community members not taking others into consideration when it comes to Covid-19 prevention.

“The elderly, disabled, immunocompromised, people with comorbidities, they can’t live their normal lives anymore.”

Around 18 per cent, or 4.4 million Australians, have a disability.

Ms Nelligan said not succumbing to pandemic fatigue and taking protective steps could help slow the spread of Covid throughout the community and protect the hospital system from collapse.

“We know (the hospital system) is very strained right now and someone like me would struggle to get a bed if I went to hospital for any reason,” Ms Nelligan said.

Expert claims relaxed mindset to blame as three die from Covid - July 20

Three people died from Covid complications on Tuesday, taking the region’s death toll to 83 as case numbers continue to spike.

Darling Downs Health confirmed the latest deaths contributed to the state’s toll of 15 over a 24-hour period earlier this week.

Seventy-six active cases of Covid-19 are currently under DDH care, with 64 being treated at the region’s hospitals.

Two people remain in the ICU receiving treatment for the virus.

Almost 57,000 active cases were yesterday confirmed across the sunshine state.

Despite calls by officials to wear masks and socially distance, a majority of residents are failing to take additional measures for protection.

While many say they are tired of hearing about Covid-19 and don’t mind if they catch it, a UQ Professor said it was more about individual choice and being more informed than March 2020.

“Many of us have had Covid by now, and many of us are still immune even now,” Professor Jolanda Jetten said.

“We’re looking at our leaders to tell us what is the appropriate response.

“If our leaders are only saying, it's a good idea to wear a mask but are not going in with the same force as before, than it becomes more of an individual choice.

“If it would be mandated, I think we would see different levels of compliance with that,” she said.

While Prof Jetten would not say it was Covid fatigue, she said some people were more relaxed when it came to the virus and taking risks.

“Once you understand it, you’ve had it and you’ve survived, it gives people a greater sense of confidence, and you don’t feel as vulnerable as you did two years ago,” she said.

“We know what to do, we’ve assessed our own situations and we’ve developed our own strategies to deal with it.

“I know many people who haven’t changed their behaviours (from two years ago) … but we are much more informed.

“We are much better at knowing how to navigate a situation, and we’re not so much in the dark as we were years ago.”

Prof Jetten said while the relaxed mindset of Queenslanders was more common, if mandates were put back in place, residents would feel more comfortable compared to their first introductions.

“It’s incredibly easy to mobilise people, and we know that we can change our behaviour as a nation overnight if we see that is what it is required and our leaders say it’s what’s needed,” she said.

85% of Toowoomba residents not masking up despite Covid death spike – July 19

The majority of Toowoomba residents are failing to mask up in public, despite a surge in Covid deaths across the region and urgent calls by government and health officials.

A survey by The Chronicle found about 15 per cent of people were wearing masks, while 50 per cent said they would follow the health advice.

It comes as another person died in the Darling Darlings from Covid-related causes on Monday, taking the region’s death roll to 80.

Toowoomba man Kevin Hall, who opts to wear a mask in public, said everyone should weigh-up the risk factors however he believed two seconds could make all the difference.

Kevin Hall wears a mask to avoid catching COVID-19 when out in public. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“They teach in school … for the sake of a few seconds, look both ways,” he said.

“I’ve got friends who caught Covid through being slack … it’s about mutual respect.”

Mr Hall had recently been in hospital and travelled on public transport, and he said he had worn a mask to prevent contracting Covid and to also protect others if he had anything.

“Everything in life is marginal, so you might as well do things in life that are going to be better for you than otherwise,” he said.

“There’s always that chance that you think … for the sake of two seconds, you could save yourself having to run into hospital.

“Many of us are wary about where and when to take risks.”

Some members of the public wear masks to avoid catching COVID-19 when out in public. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Fifty people have died in the region from Covid since May 5.

Darling Downs Health confirmed 65 patients were currently receiving treatment for Covid-19 in Darling Downs Health hospitals, including two who are in the ICU.

“There are likely to be ongoing waves of new variants and we are recommending that eligible people consider a fourth dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, as it prevents severe illness and hospital admission,” a Darling Downs Health spokeswoman said.

“This is also why we’re recommending that people continue to follow the public health advice of wash your hands, social distance where you can, and stay home if you’re sick.”

There are 76 active Covid cases in DDH care.

According to Queensland Health data, the Darling Downs has a slightly higher mortality rate, compared to Brisbane’s Metro North, Metro South, the Gold Coast and Cairns and the Hinterlands.

A Darling Downs Health spokesperson confirmed the region’s 80 deaths included those from aged-care facilities, which have been hit hard by the latest wave of the virus.

Twelve aged-care facilities across the Darling Downs, Gatton and Warwick are listed with the Federal Government as sites of active outbreaks.

Toowoomba’s Bupa Rangeville facility has had five residents die of Covid-19 during the latest outbreak, with 41 residents and 32 team members also testing positive.

A Bupa spokeswoman confirmed many were no longer infected, with only four staff members currently isolating for Covid-19, as of July 18.

“We have been working hard to protect our residents and team members from the current wave of community transmission, but we’re mindful that the current Covid strains are highly transmissible, and we know the situation can change rapidly,” the spokeswoman said.

“When an outbreak occurs, we always follow guidance from the health authorities and the local Public Health Unit and do not hesitate to put in place additional restrictions and protocols when they are needed to protect our residents and our people.

“Our home is open to visitors. However, anyone entering the home must complete a RAT test before entering and wear a mask for duration of their visit.

“Team members also wear PPE for the duration of their shift.”

The spokeswoman said the facility’s workers had been affected by the deaths.

“We have shared our condolences with their families,” they said.

As of July 15, 11 deaths have been recorded in Darling Downs aged-care homes related to Covid-19, including the five at Bupa Rangeville.

This includes three at Infinite Care Mount Lofty, and one at each of Churches of Christ Warwick Aged Care Service, Clifton Nursing Home, and TriCare Toowoomba Aged Care Residence.

Other aged care facilities impacted by active outbreaks include:

• Blue Care Toowoomba Residential Aged Care Facility
• Churches of Christ Toowoomba aged care service
• Ozcare Toowoomba
• Palm Lake Care Toowoomba
• Regis Gatton
• The Brodribb Home

Palm Lake Care Toowoomba recorded 66 “incidents”, with 39 residents confirmed positive with the virus, while 27 staff members have also contracted the illness.

Across the state, one in three aged-care facilities are battling active Covid-19 outbreaks, with 178 homes currently hit, compared to 161 last week.

Palm Lake Care aged care facility in Toowoomba is believed to have had staff and patients test positive to Covid. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Aged Community Care Providers Association interim chief executive Paul Sadler warned the numbers would continue to increase as “community transmission accelerates”.

While the Australian Defence Force has been deployed to assist the sector, as part of Operation Aged Care Assist, there are concerns staff shortages will continue to be impacted as personnel contract the virus.

“Our genuine concern is that the next few weeks could see us return to those levels of 30 per cent of rosters being unfilled across home care and residential care with the consequent impact on the care of older people,” Mr Sadler said.

Pressure mounted on Prime Minister Albanese to reinstate the $750 paid pandemic leave payments after it ended on June 30 – a deadline established by the Morrison Government.

With millions of Australians expected to contract the virus in the next six weeks, Mr Albanese called a national cabinet meeting at the weekend.

The reinstated payment will assist those who do not have access to sick leave and are required to isolate at home.

“When we received advice from the chief medical officer and other health officials … we acted very quickly to convene a meeting of the national cabinet,” Mr Albanese said.

“I’m pleased that all of the premiers and chief ministers agreed with the proposal to reinstate it, limited until the 30th of September.”

Cases are expected to rise in the coming weeks, with a peak estimated for August.

Eligible residents are urged to receive their fourth Covid-19 vaccine from GPs or pharmacies.