All residents and staff at IRT Links Seaside Aged Care Centre in Wollongong will undergo testing after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.
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IRT CEO Patrick Reid said the employee, who is fully vaccinated, had worked at the care centre during their potentially infectious period and was now isolating following NSW Health advice.
Mr Reid said his thoughts were with the employee as they dealt with any effects of the virus, while all focus at the centre was on minimising the risk to residents and other staff.
"All our residents will be asked to undertake testing for COVID-19 as a precaution and we will continue to monitor them for symptoms as we care for them in their rooms. All staff will also be tested today," he said.
"We recognise this is a concern, however we have been prepared for the risk of this happening for some time and our actions have been swift.
"We have successfully managed this scenario at other aged care centres and all is being managed calmly, with focus and according to plan."
Mr Reid said IRT had implemented its outbreak management plan at the centre, and was working with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and other health authorities to ensure all necessary protocols are in place. These included staff and resident isolation, and infection control measures.
He added that nearly 80 per cent of the residents living at IRT Links Seaside were fully vaccinated and a further 10 per cent were awaiting their second dose.
The majority of staff working at the centre are also fully vaccinated and those who have had their first dose will soon complete their schedule of two doses by October 25.
Staff are keeping residents informed of the situation and their family members are being updated with regular phone calls.
It comes as the COVID outbreak at IRT's Tarrawanna centre continues to grow, with two more residents testing positive at that residence after all staff and residents were retested on Sunday.
An IRT spokeswoman said one of the residents had been fully vaccinated, while the other had received one dose and had been transferred to Wollongong Hospital for closer monitoring.
There's currently 17 residents with COVID-19 at the care centre, and six residents in Wollongong Hospital. Sadly a male resident, aged in his 90s, passed away with COVID-19 on Friday night.
A total of 24 residents and four employees at IRT Tarrawanna have now tested positive for COVID-19, and all residents and staff are being tested regularly.
"Residents and employees diagnosed with COVID-19 continue to experience a range of symptoms including a fever and cough, while others are still relatively symptom-free," the spokeswoman said.
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