Almost one in three residential aged care homes now have outbreaks of COVID-19, with 857 active outbreaks up from 737 – an increase of 120 in a week.
There were 5,212 residents and 2,735 staff with COVID in 857 residential aged care homes last Friday, according to the Department of Health and Aged Care .
This represents a 37% increase in the number of residents and 31% increase in staff contracting the virus in seven days.
132 residents in aged care died in the seven days to 15 July – an average of more than 18 people a day.
The news comes as the aged care regulator warned providers that failure to respond quickly to an outbreak could result in action against them.
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson, wrote to all providers on Wednesday highlighting steps they must take to continue to protect residents during an outbreak.
“A slow or ineffective response to an outbreak places both residents and staff at increased risk of harm and is likely to result in regulatory action by the Commission,” she warned.
Last week, the Commission issued a clinical alert detailing the steps providers must immediately take to minimise the risks presented by the virus.
The Labor Government has maintained its approach to COVID-19 in residential care is different than the previous Coalition Government.
Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler stated this week that 76% of aged care residents have now had a fourth COVID vaccine.
The Government has also pledged access to antivirals for Australians aged over 70 who test positive for COVID and released a Winter Plan – a guide with COVID resources available for providers – last Wednesday.
