Another Illawarra aged care centre has been struck by a COVID-19 outbreak, after residents shared Christmas with family.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Warrigal Coniston has 55 residents, and was declared an outbreak on Wednesday, December 29, after a 66-year-old man tested positive to COVID.
Warrigal CEO Mark Sewell said the man acquired the infection when he attended a family gathering outside the centre on Christmas Day.
A staff member was also identified as COVID-positive on Friday December 31.
"Their infection is unrelated to the resident infection, and the strict COVID provisions already in place at the home have ensured both cases have not spread," Mr Sewell said.
"Unfortunately is it necessary to restrict access to visitors to a home with covid cases, except in special circumstances such as palliative care visits.
"Outbreak management conditions will continue to apply for at least another week, till everyone is confident no further risk of Covid infection is likely.
"Warrigal's management is very frustrated with the state and federal government's changes to public COCID testing and infection protection rules.
"These changes have allowed many more cases to spread across the community, into families and ultimately into high-risk setting such as aged care homes.
"A more cautious approach would have been wise till after the high transmission risk events of Christmas and New Year."
Mr Sewell said special outbreak meetings with the local Public Health Unit have taken place, and Warrigal will continue with daily rapid testing and regular PCR testing, as well as strict infection safety strategies.
"Warrigal has a central Clinical Compliance Team that assists every home with infection outbreaks of any kind," Mr Sewell said.
"Older people with underlying health conditions deserve protection in their homes from the devastating effects of COVID."
The other five Warrigal centres in the Illawarra region continue to operate with their usual pandemic protocols.
The Illawarra Mercury newsroom is funded by our readers. You can subscribe to support our journalism here.
Sign up for breaking news emails below ...