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Department of Health take over Melbourne aged care home as cases rise to 69 – all staff treated as close contacts and forced into quarantine
Jul 22 2020
1 min read
The Weekly Source

A significant spike in COVID-19 cases overnight at a Melbourne aged care home has prompted the Department of Health to step in.

As we covered here, the 150-bed St Basil’s Home for the Aged at Fawkner reported 51 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, up from 13 cases the previous day. This has since climbed to 69 cases.

The Aged Care Minister, Senator Richard Colbeck, confirmed that the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC), local public health and the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) have stepped in to assist the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia-run home’s management.

Despite 45 homes now facing outbreaks in Victoria, the case marks the first time the Federal Government has intervened in the running of a home.

However, it is understood that all staff at the home are being treated as close contacts, forcing them into quarantine and prompting the Government response.

At 69 cases, St Basil’s is now Victoria’s largest cluster of COVID-19 in aged care. There are also 38 cases linked to Menarock Life in Essendon and 42 in Estia Health in Ardeer.

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