A man in his 70s has become the fifth resident of a Wollongong aged care home to die with COVID-19.
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The IRT Tarrawanna Aged Care Centre resident died on Saturday, five days after the death of a woman in her 90s from the same home was reported.
"We send our deepest sympathies to the man's family and friends as they grieve his loss," IRT chief executive officer Patrick Reid said.
NSW Health has not yet reported the man's death in its daily coronavirus updates.
Mr Reid said the home was caring for eight people with COVID and another resident had been taken to Wollongong Hospital for treatment.
But 12 people had reached the criteria for recovery, he said, and one employee who had contracted the virus had returned to work.
Mr Reid said testing of residents and staff would continue every second day "until we are confident the outbreak is over".
In total 26 residents have contracted the virus since the first infections came to light on October 7.
Meanwhile the number of the new cases detected in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District continues to fall.
Two Wollongong residents and one Shellharbour resident tested positive for COVID in the 24 hours to 8pm Sunday.
Investigations continue into the Shellharbour case, but both those in Wollongong are linked to known cases.
The previous day saw nine new cases recorded in the LHD.
NSW reported 135 new cases on Monday.
There were 349 COVID patients in hospital, including 18 in the Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD.
NSW Health-run vaccination clinics, including the mass vaccination centre in Wollongong, have started offering a Pfizer booster shot for people aged 18 and over as of Monday.
The booster shot can be given six months or more after a person's second dose.
The Pfizer vaccine will be offered as this booster dose, regardless of the vaccine a person originally received.
A person is fully vaccinated after receiving two doses of the COVID vaccine, but a booster shot strengthens protection against the virus.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
