Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler has stated that “we have to do better” as another 72 aged care residents died from COVID-19 in the past week.
This represented almost 23% of all deaths from the coronavirus in Australia in the past week.
In total, 1,906 residents have died from the virus this year, compared to 917 in 2020 and 2021 combined.
The number of residents and staff with COVID has risen to 5,206, although the number of aged care homes with active cases has dropped to 644.
On 24 June, 3,361 residents and 1,845 staff were recorded as being infected with the virus.
The worst hit is Villa Terenzio, part of Not For Profit Italian Aged Care, in Marangaroo, 18km north of Perth’s CBD, where 120 staff and 41 residents have the virus, according to official data.
Aegis Stirling in Yokine, 7km north of Perth’s CBD, recorded 104 residents and 40 staff with COVID, and Nazareth Care ‘s Nazareth House Ballarat, 110km northwest of Melbourne’s CBD, had 64 residents and 58 staff affected.
Mr Butler said he had asked the Department of Health to call providers to schedule vaccinations.
“We are seeing dozens of older Australians who worked hard, paid their taxes, raised their families, and who are dying in large numbers of this disease still every week. We have to do better. And I will continue to ask my Department about whatever effort we can make,” he said.
