Premier Daniel Andrews has stated there are now almost 400 positive cases overall in aged care across his state, with more measures to prevent sick workers attending aged care homes on the cards.
“It’s roughly 50-50 in terms of workers and patients. There’ll be charts later today that’ll give you the breakdowns.”
On the outbreak at St Basil’s Aged Care Home in Faulkner, Mr Andrews said:
“I think there were so many staff that had tested positive, all were close contacts, that there needed to be a supplementary workforce put in.”
The Premier also flagged a potential announcement regarding aged care staffing, saying he had spoken to the Prime Minister about the issue on Tuesday night because it is a Commonwealth-funded sector.
He said a number of those who were going to work while sick or awaiting test results were aged care workers.
“Let’s not judge them. Let’s try and work out what is driving it. I think the financial hardship and insecurity of work is a really big factor, and that is why the payment and perhaps some tweaks, some additional announcements I will make very soon will be an important part of that.”
484 new COVID cases were recorded in Victoria yesterday, breaking the state’s previous daily record.
Two men in their 90s, both aged care residents, have also died bringing the state’s total death toll to 44. One was a resident at Arcare’s Craigieburn home.
Arcare confirmed it had 26 cases of COVID-19 at the home on Monday, with 18 residents, six workers and two allied health professionals infected and three of the residents hospitalised.
There are also:
- 69 cases linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner
- 54 cases linked to Estia Health in Ardeer
- 37 cases linked to Glendale Aged Care facility in Werribee
- 30 cases linked to Arcare Aged Care in Craigieburn
- 26 cases linked to Estia Health in Heidelberg
- 20 cases have been linked to Baptcare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee
- 18 cases have been linked to Embracia Aged Care Moonee Valley in Avondale Heights
There has also been a new aged care outbreak at Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth, 36km east of the Melbourne CBD, with two cases in staff and one case in a resident.
