By Romy Stephens
A worker from Aurrum Aged Care in Healesville was among confirmed Covid-19 cases on 8 July.
It is understood the staff member was asymptomatic but got tested for Covid-19, as a precaution, before advising Aurrum of the positive test on 7 July.
Aurrum Aged Care CEO Craig Rutherford said it was not clear if the team member was asymptomatic while working at the aged care residence.
“The team member is not believed to have been displaying symptoms of the illness when they were last in contact with any other team member or resident at Aurrum Healesville,” he said.
“We are currently working with the VIC Public Health Unit and the Federal Department of Health and Human Services who have advised there is no further action required at this time.
“I can confirm that Aurrum has always maintained strict Covid-safe practices including temperature checking of all persons – team and visitors – and broader Covid screening for everyone who attends at Aurrum Healesville.”
Mr Rutherford said the aged care would continue to take precautions such as observing residents’ blood pressure, temperature and pulse.
It is understood the worker has gone into isolation and there are currently no respiratory illnesses on-site at Aurrum Healesville.
A relative of an Aurrum Healesville resident, who did not want to be named, said their dad visited their grandmother on 8 July but wasn’t told of the confirmed Covid-19 case.
“He went up this morning and he was just presented with the normal access that they’ve previously had going in,” the relative said.
“I rang dad and said ‘have you been notified or do you know if nanna has been tested’ and he had no idea….He was shocked and didn’t know what to do.”
The relative said it would now be an anxious wait to see how the confirmed case would impact the residents and family members.
“I’m quite nervous because I’m in Mansfield and I work as a nurse and we’re super cautious as it is,” they said.
“Unless they are testing 100 per cent of staff and residents and have a lockdown period for two weeks they can’t guarantee that someone in the facility doesn’t have it.”
Victoria recorded almost 3000 cases of coronavirus on 8 July, 134 more than the day before.
Of the new cases, 11 were linked to outbreaks while 123 were under investigation. No cases have been detected in returned travellers in hotel quarantine.
The new figures come as metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire prepare to return to Stage 3 lockdown from midnight 8 July.
“These restrictions have become necessary because of the sharp increase in cases,” said Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.
“If you live in these areas, there’ll be only four reasons to leave your home: shopping for food and essential items; care and caregiving; daily exercise; and work and study, if you can’t do it from home.
“This Stay at Home direction will apply to your principal place of residence – which means you need to stay home and not use a holiday home.
“These are tough measures but this virus is not selective – it will impact anyone it encounters, and personal contact is the clear source of its transmission. We need everyone to do their part and ensure it is stopped in its tracks.”
