Aged care nurse slammed by QLD premier, Rockhampton home evacuated

An aged care nurse working in Rockhampton has been called out by the Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for continuing to show up to work while symptomatic and awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.

"Honestly, a nurse should know better," the premier said.

"Everyone has a personal responsibility here to make sure that if they are sick, they are not turning up to work," she said on Monday.

A total of 235 staff and residents at the centre have been tested and cleared, with officials waiting on another 37 results.

But deputy premier and health minister Steven Miles says it will be another 12 days before everyone is in the clear.

The nurse, who was working at the North Rockhampton Nursing Centre, eventually returned a positive test, and as a result some 40 nurses have been placed in self-isolation – although they currently test negative.

And as reported by the ABC, medical staff from southern Queensland, including about 20 nurses, have been flown in to assist in hospitals, fever clinics and aged care facilities.

It has been reported that the residents of the North Rockhampton Nursing Centre aged care facility have been evacuated in a bid to stop a possible outbreak.

Thirty-five of the facility's less frail residents were moved to nearby hospitals on Saturday to create more space for the remaining occupants to isolate.

Miles said it was a "miracle" that no residents had yet tested positive for the virus.

Beth Mohle, secretary of the Queensland Nurses and Midwives’ Union, said contact tracing was currently underway to identify anyone who may have been in contact with the nurse over the past two weeks.

“This incident highlights the high risk environment our members can sometimes work in,” Mohle said.

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