Further evidence that maintaining PPE protocol while working as a carer is a difficult task.
A nurse at the Western Sydney aged care home and two “close contacts” were among six new cases in NSW announced yesterday, with NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant revealing that the nurse had been involved in a PPE breach at the aged care home.
“We have two close contacts of a nurse at the Newmarch facility, where there was a PPE breach for that nurse who has acquired the infection through that mechanism,” she said.
“The advice I’ve got in relation to that case is that the healthcare worker was actually assisting someone, and [her PPE] was dislodged by the resident inadvertently.”
Dr Chant said after being exposed, the nurse went into isolation – where they developed symptoms and were tested – so she did not believe there were ongoing transmission issues.
The two close contacts – who also worked at the home – were already in isolation when they tested positive.
There are now 71 cases linked to Newmarch House – 37 residents and 34 staff.
