The encouraging figure that shows COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care homes are falling

Surge workers are now only needed in 98 of the 2,684 residential aged care homes across the nation, as the number of staff with COVID-19 falls markedly. That is just over 3.6% of homes, as the latest figures from the Department of Health and Aged Care reveal there have been 109 new outbreaks, 61 new resident deaths, and 2,059 combined new resident and staff cases in the seven days since 26 August 2022. There remain 388 aged care homes still hit by

Since the start of the pandemic the surge workforce has filled a total of 134,242 shifts in aged care services, with the peak body, The Recruitment, Consulting and Staffing Association, providing a total of 84,503 shifts. The median age of death attributed to COVID is 83 years. In related news, WA is now leaving it to the discretion of aged care operators to determine the number of visitors it will allow at any one time; however, residential aged care and disability care facilities will require proof of vaccination, and masks must still be worn by employees and visitors. Additionally, NSW Health and the Federal Department of Health and Aged Care have updated their protocol to support joint management of an outbreak in aged care homes. The Joint Protocol has been in place since mid-2020.