The number of cases in the state’s aged care homes is edging close to 1,000 as Victoria recorded 627 new cases of coronavirus on Friday – a slight drop on Thursday’s record daily increase of 723 that brought the state’s total number of active cases to 10,577.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed eight more deaths included two men in their 50s, two men in their 70s, three men in their 80s and a woman in her 70s.
Four of these deaths are linked to aged care.
There are currently 928 active cases linked to aged care.
The major aged care outbreaks included:
- 124 cases linked to St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner (13 new cases since Thursday)
- 115 cases linked to Estia Aged Care in Ardeer (21 new cases since Thursday)
- 104 cases linked to Epping Gardens Aged Care in Epping (14 new cases since Thursday)
- 87 cases linked to Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth (6 new cases since Thursday)
- 82 cases linked to Estia Aged Care in Heidelberg (15 new cases since Thursday)
- 63 cases linked to Menarock Life Aged Care in Essendon (one new case since Thursday)
- 58 cases linked to Glendale Aged Care Facility in Werribee (two new cases since Thursday)
- 55 cases linked to Outlook Gardens Aged Care in Dandenong North (6 new cases since Thursday)
- 52 cases linked to Baptcare Wyndham Lodge in Werribee (no change)
- 45 cases linked to Arcare Aged Care in Craigieburn (3 new cases since Thursday)
There are now 347 people in hospital, with 37 in intensive care.
While acknowledging the numbers, which represent the second worst day since the start of the pandemic, aren’t where he wanted them to be, the Premier stopped short of announcing new restrictions saying: “Over the past six months, many people have called for many things.”
“There will always be different views and there will always be different opinions on when certain things should happen. That is not unhealthy but I think following advice and following advice that is based on fact and data, not hunches, is a very important thing,” he added.
Aged care homes have stabilised – PM
Scott Morrison weighed in on aged care outbreaks yesterday in an interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham saying while some facilities have been “overwhelmed” by and large the sector has “stabilised”.
“I’d stress there are over 430 aged care facilities across the Melbourne area and less than half a dozen of those have been in a very serious situation, and acute situation, it’s only less than half a dozen of those where we have had those very distressing outcomes and that’s where we’ve stepped in,” the Prime Minister said.
“Those facilities have now stabilised, my advice is. I mean Epping Gardens, a lot of work was being done yesterday and overnight, I’ll get an update in that in about half an hour. But I understand that’s heading to stabilised now.”
Queensland on high alert
This news comes as operators north of the border are on high alert as aged care closures extended from south Brisbane to the Greater Brisbane and Ipswich areas.
A staff member at Bolton Clarke’s aged care home at Pinjarra Hills, in Brisbane’s southwest, tested positive for COVID-19, prompting a lockdown of the facility.
