Laidley’s Tabeel aged care facility at centre of Covid-19 outbreak, with 43 cases among residents and staff including two in hospital

The Covid-19 outbreak within a Lockyer Valley nursing home has continued to grow, with 17 residents and 26 staff members contracting the virus. Two residents are also in hospital.

UPDATE: Another eight residents at a Lockyer Valley nursing home have tested positive to Covid-19, with two elderly people in hospital as a result.

Lutheran Services revealed the outbreak at its Tabeel aged care facility in Laidley had grown to 43, including 17 residents and 26 staff members since December 27.

Organisation CEO Nick Ryan said the centre had been deep-cleaned and placed into lockdown.

“All positive staff and residents are currently doing well,” he said in a statement.

“To date, we are seeing a very low rate of serious illness as a result of Covid-19.

“Tabeel residents have very high rates of vaccination, and all staff are double vaccinated.

“The service has had a deep clean, been placed into lockdown and staff are wearing full personal protective equipment.

“Our onsite team at Tabeel overseeing our response includes a nurse practitioner and senior clinical nurse with experience in managing Covid-19 aged care outbreaks interstate.”

Mr Ryan said Lutheran Services was in regular contact with the family of residents.

“We thank everyone wholeheartedly for their well wishes and co-operation at this time,” he said.

The incident has still not been included on Queensland Health’s list of superspreader events or locations.

SUNDAY 4PM: A Lockyer Valley aged care facility has been locked down after 23 staff members and nine residents tested positive to Covid-19 in recent days.

Lutheran Services’ Tabeel aged care centre at Laidley has more than 30 positive cases, with that number potentially getting higher as more test results are returned.

The organisation announced the outbreak on its website, saying it would contact relatives of positive cases immediately.

“Just a short update today to tell you we have nine Covid-19 positive residents and 23 positive staff,” the post from January 1 said.

“We are still awaiting all the results from testing carried out on December 30.

“Due to the demand for testing at the moment in the community, we expect to experience delays in getting test results.

“Should we receive advice that your loved one tests positive, rest assured we will personally call nominated contacts immediately.

“We are very aware that residents are feeling the impacts of the lockdown and are working hard to put things in place.

“If you would like to speak to your loved one, please call the office if you do not have a direct line and we will assist.”

Despite the news, the outbreak had not been listed as a superspreader event on the Queensland Health website as of 3pm Sunday.

A QH spokeswoman said it would focus on releasing exposure sites for areas of most concern, including high-risk settings like aged care facilities.

“Given the rapidly rising case numbers in all parts of the state, we are asking Queenslanders to assume they are at risk of developing Covid-19 no matter where they are and take precautions such as wearing a mask in public and maintaining physical distance from other people,” she said.

WHAT'S A CLOSE CONTACT?

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday:
You’re only a close contact if you are effectively living with someone or been in an accommodation setting with someone, more than four hours, with someone who has actually got Covid, not someone who was in contact with someone who’s had Covid. It’s with someone specifically who has Covid.

BUT Professor Nicola Spurrier, ABC Radio Friday morning: 
We’re not using that four hour (decision); that wasn’t something that we’ve discussed at AHPPC (Australian Health Protection Principal Committee). I guess, here in South Australia, we’ve got our own way of doing our contact tracing.  In terms of people outside of the household or your household contacts, it has to have been more than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact. 

Premier Steven Marshall lunchtime Friday: 
You’re a close contact, if you’re a household or intimate partner, or those two exceptional circumstances in South Australia – if it is related to a vulnerable cohort, for example, in aged care facility (or) Aboriginal community where there’s no logic in narrowing that down because those two communities are more likely [to have a] higher level illness. And the other one, of course, is (when) we do have an identified transmission site. 

SA Health Facebook post Thursday 11.35pm
In South Australia we will continue to include "close contacts" as:
â–ª household and household-like contacts and intimate partners
â–ª those who have been in a setting where there has been significant transmission of COVID-19 (and there has been greater than 15 minutes face-to-face contact)
â–ª those in high-risk communities/settings/workplaces where someone has tested positive to COVID-19 (and there has been greater than 15 minutes of face-to-face contact)
Most close contacts will receive an SMS from SA Health. However, if you know you are a close contact, please do not wait for the SMS – get tested and isolate immediately. 

SA Health also advised
If someone you have been in close contact with tells you they have tested positive to COVID-19, you must:
â–ª immediately quarantine for 7 days since they had contact with a COVID-19 positive person or were at the exposure location 
â–ª get an initial PCR test 
â–ª get a PCR test again on day 6 if initial test negative (a negative day 6 PCR test is required to be released from quarantine)
â–ª get a PCR test again immediately if symptoms develop (be mindful of symptoms for up to 14 days)
â–ª not attend high risk settings or Covid Management Plan events for 14 days after exposure
â–ª wear a surgical mask when around others
â–ª avoid contact with vulnerable people, avoid non-essential activities where possible and avoid shared spaces and maintain physical distancing on days 8 to 14 after exposure.
â–ª Do not attend an Emergency Department, unless it is an emergency.

SA Health posted on Facebook on Friday at 5.45am for those with Covid
â–ª If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 you must immediately isolate and inform your close contacts.
â–ª If possible, isolate in a different house to reduce the chance of other people in your house getting sick. Your close contacts will need to get tested and isolate according to vaccination status.
â–ª Your close contacts will largely be people from your household and intimate partners. It may also include other people you have been in close proximity with such as in your workplace, education facility or socially.

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FRIDAY: Oakey residents are on alert as a cluster of Covid-19 cases begin to emerge among employees at the town’s meatworks.

Darling Downs Health confirmed cases of Covid have been linked to Oakey Beef Exports, with The Chronicle understanding at least 10 employees are currently infected with the virus.

The meatworks, which is currently shut for the holidays and is set to resume operations on January 4, is working closely with the Queensland Health and employees to manage contact tracing.

“Our Public Health Unit is working closely with several confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to Oakey Beef Exports, as well as close contacts of these cases and Oakey Beef Exports management, to slow the spread of Covid through the community,” a Darling Downs spokeswoman said.

A file photo of Oakey Beef Exports.

“We are asking the community of Oakey to get vaccinated or get their booster dose if they haven’t already, as well as wear a mask, wash their hands, and use the Queensland Check In app wherever they go.”

The Chronicle understands the employee with the initial positive-case within Oakey Beef Exports worked in the Boning Room.

Close contacts of the positive employees have been instructed to get tested, as well as anyone with symptoms.

“COVID-19 testing is available at Baillie Henderson Hospital in Toowoomba seven days a week from 8.30am to 4pm, including public holidays, and at Toowoomba Showgrounds from 8.30am to 4pm this week,” the Darling Downs Health spokesperson said.

“There is no need to phone ahead to book.

“A vaccination clinic is open at Clifford Gardens Shopping Centre in Toowoomba seven days a week from 8.30am to 4pm.

“Walk-ins are welcome.”

A total of 138 active cases of Covid-19 has been detected in the Darling Downs, as the state’s daily increase skyrockets to 2222.

NH Foods – owner of Oakey Beef Exports – has ben contacted for comment.

More to follow.