35% increase of COVID-19 cases in aged care residents and staff in seven days

More than 1,900 aged care residents and staff have contracted COVID-19, with the virus in 360 homes, according to the latest data from the Commonwealth Department of Health. After a 12% increase in resident cases seven days earlier, the first in five weeks, it is clear the new more transmissible Omicron sub-variant BA.2 is taking hold in residential aged care homes, where the majority of people are aged over 85. The situation is particularly dire in NSW, with 133 aged care homes – one in seven – with COVID. There are 69 homes with the virus in WA, 63 in QLD, 41 in SA, 39 in VIC, 3 in TAS and 3 in the NT. 906 aged care residents were reported to have died this year, as of Friday last week, which meant a further 29 residents had died in the past week. In response to the Omicron variant, the Department last month issued further advice encouraging facilities to prepare for “worst-case scenarios” and sudden changes to the availability of staff. Recommendations included moving casual and part-time staff to full-time rosters, covering hotel accommodation costs for employees who are concerned about their potential exposure to family members, and seeking support from surge workforce where applicable. Other recommendations include using staff furloughed by COVID to assist on-site employees by carrying out remote tasks such as administrative duties or calling family members. As of last Friday, according to the Department, the aged care homes with the most active cases were:

• Ozcare De Paul Villa Aged Care, Southport, 75km south-southeast of Brisbane, 76;
• Adventist Residential Care, WA 74;
• Aegis Hermitage, Ellenbrook, 30km northeast of Perth, 63;
• Woodlands Aged Care and NDIS Services, Newmarket, 5km north of Brisbane, 61;
• Regis Tiwi, Tiwi, 14,5km north of Darwin, NT, 54.