Aged care residents could face a third Christmas under COVID-19 restrictions, as case numbers soar in aged care homes across the country.

In the week from 1 December, there were 63 deaths in residential aged care, more than 3,000 new resident cases, and 192 new COVID outbreaks.

The latest data shows there are active outbreaks in 695 aged care homes, which could indicate tens of thousands of aged care residents will face restrictions over the holiday season.

The spike comes as the Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler, announced the government’s COVID management plans for 2023, which show the government is moving away from “COVID exceptionalism”.

However, the government’s plans include continued support for aged care.

The supports for older Australians living in residential aged care include:

• continued provisions from the National Medical Stockpile;
• commitments to increase vaccination;
• access to antiviral treatments;
• continuing to reimburse residential aged care homes for COVID-19 outbreak management costs;
• maintaining surge workforce arrangements;
• enhancing sector preparedness and infection prevention capability;
• continuing emergency in-reach PCR testing arrangements during outbreaks; and
• providing a Statement of Expectations on COVID-19 management in aged care settings to outline what is required to deliver safe and quality care with regards to COVID-19.

Aged and Community Care Providers Association chief executive, Tom Symondson, told The Australian that residential aged care homes are unable to “live with the virus” and a lack of mandated COVID restrictions was making it difficult for facilities to navigate fresh outbreaks.

Tom said new restrictions would be met with disappointment, yet the government still needs to provide clearer, national guidelines to help the sector deal with high case numbers.

He welcomed the government’s commitment to continue funding support for aged care homes experiencing an outbreak, which was due to expire at the end of the year.

“Each state has its own guidance and one of the things we want is national guidance,” Tom said. “It is confusing to see that guidance changes from one state to the next, and it’s always just ‘advisory’ now and that forces the aged care provider to navigate those rules.

“We need to remind people that this has not ended. We need more public messaging and more reminders for people not to go into an aged care home if they feel unwell.”

Craig Gear, chief executive of the Older Persons Advocacy Network, said it will be a challenge for aged care homes to be COVID-safe over the holiday season as staff are already stretched thin, on holidays and many are in isolation.

“Families need to be respectful that during this time of year there is pressure on providers with the numbers coming into homes,” Craig told The Australian.

“Visits might need to be staged rather than having one large family gathering to allow infection prevention measures to work,” he said.

Gerard Hayes, national president of the Health Services Union, said care workers face constant concern about COVID-19 outbreaks.

“Our members know their job deals with life and death, and they work hard to make life as safe and comfortable for people as they can,” he said.