804 cases linked to aged care in Victoria and 150+ residents transferred – 400 aged care shifts already filled by hospital staff

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews (pictured above) has confirmed a further drop in the number of new cases in the state yesterday – at 295 – but also revealed nine new deaths – seven linked to aged care.

The deaths included two people in their 90s, five people in their 80s, one person in their 70s and one in their 60s.

Victoria now has 4,775 active cases in total.

There are now 804 active COVID-19 cases spread across 87 homes.

Wednesday’s top ten outbreaks tally includes:

• 91 cases linked to Estia Aged Care in Ardeer (3 new cases since Tuesday)
• 89 cases linked to St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner (3 new cases since Tuesday)
• 86 cases linked to Epping Gardens in Epping (4 new cases since Tuesday)
• 79 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth (3 new cases since Tuesday)
• 62 cases linked to Menarock Life aged care in Essendon (the same as Tuesday)
• 56 cases linked to Estia Health Care in Heidelberg (6 new cases since Tuesday)
• 54 cases linked to Glendale Aged care in Werribee (1 new case since Tuesday)
• 51 cases linked to Baptcare’s Wyndham Lodge in Werribee (the same as Tuesday)
• 44 cases linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care in Dandenong North (4 new cases since Tuesday)
• 41 cases linked to Arcare Aged Care in Craigieburn (2 new cases since Tuesday)

307 Victorians are now in hospital and 41 are in intensive care.

150+ residents transferred from facilities – 80 from St Basil’s

Mr Andrews also confirmed resident transfers have taken place at several home.

“If it’s an emergency transfer, those residents will go to a public hospital,” he said.

“If it’s a planned transfer where there can be some lead-in time, they will go to the private sector.”

Transferred residents include:

• 80 from St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner;
• 34 from Epping Gardens;
• 30 from Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth;
• 21 from Outlook Gardens in Dandenong North.

“Every aged care setting where there’s a positive case is a unique risk and massive challenge,” he added.

400 nurses transplanted to aged care

The Premier also revealed nurses from Victorian hospitals have already contributed to 400 shifts in aged care homes, labelling it a “massive job”.

“I just want to say thank you so much from every Victorian,” he said.

“The key thing here is to get the job done and every Victorian can be assured that’s what our nurses are doing.”

Unsurprisingly, Mr Andrews also distanced himself from the comments he made yesterday around non-Government-run aged care homes, which are overseen by the Federal Government.

“I’ve made my views clear on why we’ve needed to step in, that was yesterday, I’m not interested in running any further commentary,” he said bluntly.