The staff member last worked on Wednesday at Assisi Aged Care’s home in Rosanna (pictured above), 12km northeast of the CBD, before developing any symptoms, The Age reports.
Assisi Centre chief executive Paul Cohen (pictured inset) wrote a letter to families on Monday to inform them of the diagnosis, but said VIC Health had deemed the case low-risk.
“I am sorry to inform you that one of our staff, who last worked in St Claire [one of the facility’s units] on Wednesday March 25, has today tested positive for COVID-19. She is the first one of our staff to test positive for the virus,” he said.
“We discussed the matter with the Department of Health this morning and have been told they do not consider this case to be a risk to our residents. This is because she became unwell two days after her last shift. Despite this, I wanted to let you know.”
No residents have tested positive to the coronavirus, but the CEO said Assisi had increased screening and cleaning.
The home had entered a voluntary lockdown with no visitors on 19 March for two weeks as a proactive step.
Separately in Tasmania, a part-time home care worker reportedly did not self-isolate despite returning recently from Thailand.
Much like the restrictions placed on the community by the Government, providers must trust staff to obey directives.
