The Federal Government has announced another $840 million to extend support for aged care services battling COVID-19.

The extra funding is part of a $1.4 billion package, with the majority going to aged care. The funding will include on-site PCR testing in aged care homes; extra rapid antigen tests including in residential aged care; GP respiratory clinics; and face-to-face GP visits for patients with COVID-19.

“Since the advent of the Omicron variant in particular, the number of aged care facility outbreaks has increased very dramatically,” said Mark Butler (pictured), Minister for Health and Aged Care.

“We’ve looked at this and realised that we need to provide additional funds over the course of the rest of the year to secure aged care.”

The end date for the additional support has been set at the end of the year, but concerns have been expressed that funding may be required beyond that date.

ACCPA Interim CEO Paul Sadler told the ABC the sector is worried about higher cases continuing into next year.

“We do understand the authorities are concerned about a possible new wave of COVID potentially coming from the Northern Hemisphere, and further variants that may develop in the winter over there,” he said.

The Minister indicated further funding may be available, without making a firm commitment.

“There will be a need to retain some measures over the course of 2023, I’m very sure. And so over the course of the rest of this year, we will be considering the need for measures to be extended beyond the end of calendar 2022,” he said.

The most recent data from the Department of Health shows there are currently 270 active COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care homes, with 1,248 resident cases.

More than 3,000 aged care residents have died with COVID-19 this year, almost triple the number of aged care deaths in the first two years of the pandemic and 75% of all aged care deaths since the start of the pandemic.