A sign that the Victorian aged care outbreaks are under control – or that the system wasn’t working?
The Department of Health has announced that the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre (VACRC) COVID-19 Early Warning System (EWS) will cease operations from today.
“The system was designed to identify COVID-19 infections early through a voluntary notification process,” the Department states. “However, in its current form, the EWS is not an accurate way to provide early detection.”
This appears to indicate that providers and staff were not using the system to self-report positive cases.
Instead, the system will be replaced by a coordinated program of COVID-19 testing of aged care workers across the state.
The Department adds that providers are still required to notify the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) of positive COVID test results immediately by email to teamone.ccom@dhhs.vic.gov.au.
There are now only eight active coronavirus cases linked to Victorian aged care homes – two residents, four staff and two close contacts – with no new resident cases identified since 26 September, almost a month.
