By Jed Lanyon and Romy Stephens
Two Healesville aged care homes that recorded Covid-19 cases earlier this month have now successfully tested all residents and workers, with no further positive cases.
Both Aurrum Aged Care and Holmwood Aged Care were listed as having confirmed Covid-19 cases on 8 July.
Since then, 100 per cent of staff and residents have been tested at both sites, all returning negative results.
Holmwood Aged Care CEO Andrew Meek told Star Mail there was “no trace” of coronavirus at Holmwood following the tests of staff and residents.
“I am pleased to confirm that we have no further confirmed cases of Covid-19 with any of our residents or employees,” he said.
“A special thank you is warranted to the nurse who advised us as soon as she could of her positive test result. This enabled us to respond quickly and reduce the potential for possible further infections.”
Mr Meek said the Public Health Unit had reviewed the measures that Holmwood had in place and was complimentary about the controls that had been introduced since the start of the pandemic in March.
Aurrum CEO Craig Rutherford said the Healesville aged care had been cleared by the Department of Health and Human Services to move out of lockdown on 18 July.
Mr Rutherford said the next stage for the aged care would be active surveillance.
“This decision has been made by the Public Health Unit on the basis that all testing conducted for Covid has returned negative results and that we have not had any residents with respiratory illnesses at any time during the precautionary lockdown period,” he said.
“Aurrum has assessed the need to reinstate Shelter in Place due to the increasing number of community acquired infections, we believe that this is the safest option at this time.
“Compassionate exemptions for end of life circumstances will continue to be reviewed on an individual basis including on a 24/7 basis.”
Mr Rutherford also said Aurrum team members and visitors were now required to wear face masks when entering aged care homes.
The relative of a resident at Aurrum Healesville, who did not want to be named, said they were very pleased with how quickly the aged care responded to the confirmed Covid-19 case.
The relative said their mum had been at the aged care facility for six years, and they felt Aurrum was “very safe.”
“Aurrum, I couldn’t fault them, I think they did everything they could,” the relative said.
“I was really impressed with how quickly they dealt with it, went into lockdown, got all the testing done and kept us up to date.
“I think that helps you process it and deal with it a lot better because you know what’s happening. Communication is the key with any relationship.”
