Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton says the single case had been detected at the Not For Profit’s Bundoora aged care home, 16km north of the Melbourne CBD.
“The resident is being well cared for and has been isolated in their room since developing mild symptoms. Staff have been using full PPE to care for the resident since they developed symptoms,” he said.
“Comprehensive contact tracing is underway and testing of all staff and residents will take place over the coming days. Residents and families are all being informed, and the department is working closely with the facility to ensure appropriate public health actions have been taken, including isolation, quarantine and cleaning.”
VMCH has released a statement, clarifying that the resident had been taken to hospital with a body temperature of 39 degrees at the weekend.
“As this is a symptom of COVID-19, the resident was tested, with the initial test results being inconclusive (neither negative nor positive),” they said in a statement.
“The Department of Health is currently treating all inconclusive results as positive. As a result, the entire residence is now in lockdown until the Public Health Unit advises us this can end.”
VMCH says the resident has since returned the home and tested negative, but the Department of Health wants two more negative tests – 48 hours apart – as a precaution.
“All other staff are being tested for COVID-19. Should any signs of ill health appear, we will seek medical attention immediately,” VMCH said.
VMCH had eased its restrictions on families visiting residents on 7 May – 12 days ago.
