11 Sydney aged care residents put in isolation, COVID-19 suspected

A Sydney aged care home has placed several residents in isolation after the confirmation that one of its workers has contracted the coronavirus, COVID-19.

NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard on Wednesday confirmed an aged care worker at Dorothy Henderson Lodge Aged Care Centre in Macquarie Park, part of the BaptistCare group, had been diagnosed with coronavirus.

The woman is aged in her 50s and had not recently travelled outside Australia but began experiencing flu-like symptoms from roughly February 24.

She is in a good condition in hospital, Mr Hazzard said.

“Of course, we’re aware that it’s likely that she could have been capable of passing on the coronavirus from at least the day before, 24 hours, so that’s 23rd February,” Mr Hazzard told reporters on Wednesday.

“BaptistCare … has confirmed to us that they have done all that any very responsible group who look after our elderly citizens would do, and they have worked with NSW Health and our public health unit.”

Mr Hazzard said 13 Dorothy Henderson Lodge residents had been checked by NSW Health, 11 of whom have now been placed in isolation.

Two of those 11 have presented with respiratory symptoms and NSW Health are seeking to confirm if they are suffering from COVID-19 or another illness.

One of the residents – a 95-year-old woman – has died. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.

“Whether or not it was related to corona[virus] we don’t know at this point.”

NSW Health is also alerting passengers who were on five separate flights from Asia in the past week after two men in their 30s, a man in his 50s and two women in their 60s tested positive following their arrival in NSW.

They travelled from Iran, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Wednesday warned the number of COVID-19 cases was likely to rise in the next few days.

She said anyone who is feeling unwell should contact their GP or the local hospital and make arrangements to get tested.

Around 3000 people in NSW have been tested and cleared to date.

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old male doctor is in a stable condition at Westmead Hospital and “going quite well”, Mr Hazzard told the Nine Network on Tuesday.

NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said the doctor had worked at Ryde Hospital and had been in contact with a “diverse range of patients”.

Thirteen doctors, 23 nurses and four other health workers have been identified as close contacts of the doctor and are in home isolation.

A further eight patients of the doctor are showing no symptoms, while 29 other patients identified as casual contacts are being chased up.

Six additional people in the past 24 hours have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of those infected in NSW to 15.

Do you have an idea for a story?
Email [email protected]