Victoria records 59 deaths as numbers are updated to include more aged care deaths

Victoria recorded 81 new cases on Friday, a slight decrease on Thursday’s total of 113. But the number in the headlines was 59 deaths, taking the state’s toll to 650.

This includes 53 aged care deaths that had occurred prior to yesterday, but only been reported after a reconciling of numbers between providers, state and national health units and the death registry.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed three aged care residents had passed away earlier this month and 50 in July and August, in addition to the six people yesterday.

Victoria now has 2060 active cases, including 993 related to aged care.

The state’s major aged care outbreaks include:

• 215 cases linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping (1 new case since Thursday)
• 213 cases linked to BaptCare Wyndham Lodge Community in Werribee (no new cases since Thursday)
• 206 cases linked to St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner (1 new case since Thursday)
• 162 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Ardeer (no new cases since Thursday)
• 139 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth (no new cases since Thursday)
• 127 cases linked to Twin Parks Aged Care in Reservoir (no new cases since Thursday)
• 123 cases linked to Cumberland Manor Aged Care Facility in Sunshine North (no new cases since Thursday)
• 118 cases linked to Estia Aged Care Facility in Heidelberg (1 new case since Thursday)
• 117 cases linked to Japara Goonawarra Aged Care Facility in Sunbury (no new cases since Thursday)
• 116 cases linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care Facility in Dandenong North (no new cases since Thursday)

There are 329 Victorians in hospital with COVID, including 20 in intensive care.

“No one is doing the wrong thing” – Andrews

The Premier said there was nothing untoward about the sharp increase in cases, rather they reflected the change in reporting obligations to ensure the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC), set up to deal with the crisis, had accurate figures.

“We would prefer that all the data be aligned in an instantaneous fashion,” he said.

“It is not what happened. But it is appropriate once you have done that work that you report faithfully and as accurately as you possibly can and that is what we are doing.”

“The alternative is to have reporting that is too much like guesswork” – Chief Health Officer

Victorian Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton, who also appeared at the briefing, elaborated further.

“The notifications of coronavirus to DHHS in Victoria is an obligation for medical practitioners and laboratories in Victoria so we have to reconcile those together. We’ve gone through an audit process to try make that as robust as possible and we want to get it right.”

“The alternative is to have reporting that is too much like guesswork or that might have some recalculation of already reported figures. So, the figures that we are giving now are locked in. They are the ones that have been properly reconciled and are accurate. It does take time to get to that point.”