Aug 02, 2020

Veteran Soldiers called up to support Victorian aged care homes in their fight

As the COVID pandemic worsens in Victoria over the weekend, Veteran soldiers are being recruited to assist the aged care sector.

Ironside Recruitment posted the ad on their Facebook page, “Casual staff needed – training to be provided”. The crew of ex-defence must be capable of carrying out testing across aged care homes in Melbourne.

On Friday it was confirmed by Professor Allison McMillan, Commonwealth Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, that the highly skilled AUSMAT team sent in to support StBasil’s aged care home in Victoria tested positive for COVID-19.

Professor McMillan said, the decision to move all residents out of StBasil’s was made “partly due to the fact that unfortunately, three additional staff members tested positive, that it was time for us to move all remaining residents from that facility into hospital”.

“Which highlights the challenges we face in managing this outbreak. So, the staff that came to help in that difficult time a few- 10 days ago, are now, unfortunately, have tested positive.

Now, they have been isolated and will remain in isolation. They aren’t at work”.

With over 1,008 active cases across over 100 aged care homes reported yesterday, with those numbers expected to further to increase today.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will be holding a press conference this afternoon to provide an update on current active cases.

There have been rumours circling on social media about a potential Stage 4 restriction across Melbourne and Mitchell Shire, however, nothing has been confirmed as yet.

The Department of Health has resources on how to manage positive COVID-19 cases in the “First 24 hours” on its website for aged care providers, they can be found here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Aged care staff still need to isolate for seven days despite new COVID isolation changes

People working in aged care facilities will still need to isolate for seven days if they contract COVID-19, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing Australia's COVID-19 isolation period will change in just over a week. Read More

The vaccine is here, now what?

The first shipment of coronavirus vaccines in Australia landed early this afternoon on a Singapore Airlines flight and was unloaded and moved to a secret location in Sydney.  Read More

I have sympathy for the lockdown, but nothing makes up for the fact our patients are alone

Dear Dr Srivastava, Just letting you know your patient died yesterday. I hope you have a good weekend. At a chaotic time I appreciate when residents take the time to write but this time I can’t help thinking about the missing word: your patient died alone yesterday. With large parts of Victoria in a second lockdown,... Read More
Advertisement