The number of residents in aged care homes who have died after contracting COVID-19 this year has passed 1,000.
In 2020, a total of 685 residents died from coronavirus, while in 2021, 223 residents passed away as a result of the virus.
The number of residents and aged care homes with COVID continues to rise. As of last Friday, there were 3,964 COVID-19 cases in 658 active outbreaks in residential aged care facilities. Of these, 2,101 cases are in residents and 1,863 cases are in staff. Of the residents:
- 976 are in NSW,
- 371 in Victoria,
- 133 in SA,
- 271 in QLD,
- 46 in TAS,
- 46 in the ACT, and
- 258 in WA.
A further 94 residents have reportedly died in the past seven days, although the number includes NSW Health discovering 64 previously unreported aged care home deaths this year.
From Tuesday, residential aged care operators can start administering COVID-19 winter dose vaccinations to aged care residents and workers who meet ATAGI’s criteria of a vulnerable individual.
A fourth booster shot of a COVID vaccine is recommended for residents in residential aged care ahead of the winter season.
