NSW Health to examine deaths of Newmarch House residents who had recovered from COVID-19
The state health authority is collecting data on people diagnosed with COVID-19 who died after being cleared to determine whether the virus contributed to their deaths, the Herald reports
As we reported here, the two residents at the Western Sydney aged care home had passed away on Friday and Monday after testing negative for the virus. The state health authority is collecting data on people diagnosed with COVID-19 who died after being cleared to determine whether the virus contributed to their deaths, the Herald reports. Clinical specialists sent to Newmarch House by NSW Health had concluded the virus did not contribute to the deaths of the two residents, but the health authority says the fatalities will be included in their register of deaths of people previously diagnosed with COVID-19. Currently, the coronavirus death toll in Australia stands at 98 – 29 of which were aged care residents and home care recipients – or 29.5% of deaths. However, we understand the death of at least one other aged care resident who had been diagnosed with the virus has not been included in the official death toll because they had since been cleared. Early research on COVID-19 also suggests that it can have a long-term impact on the lungs as well as the liver, heart, kidneys, gut and brain. Will NSW Health find that more deaths should be counted as part of the official toll?
