More aged care deaths as Covid-19 deaths in Australia pass 1000

Deaths caused by COVID-19 in Australia surpassed 1000 people on Monday after the escalating crisis in NSW recorded four deaths.

Overnight NSW registered 1,290 new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 and as it stands, there have been 20,061 locally acquired cases reported since 16 June 2021.

There are currently 840 COVID-19 cases admitted to hospital, with 137 people in intensive care, 48 of whom require ventilation.

Over the weekend more aged care residents lost their lives due to COVID-19 as the number of cases among residents and staff continues to rise.

A man in his 70s from Sydney’s inner west died at Concord Hospital. He acquired his infection at the Meredith House Aged Care facility.

On Saturday it was reported that a man in his 80s from Sydney’s inner west died at Concord Hospital. He acquired his infection at the Wyoming Aged Care facility, and is the fifth death linked to this outbreak.

“Every time we read out these names, there is a family that is grieving,” Dr Kerry Chant said. 

Government data shows that as of August 27, eight aged care residents have died from COVID-19 this calendar year, while the weekend's deaths bring that figure to 10.

It also shows that there are currently 19 active COVID outbreaks in Australian aged care homes. 

There are 71 active resident cases and 44 active staff cases, while the total number of aged care homes that have had an outbreak stands at 260.

The total number of outbreaks stands at 269.

In total, 2,152 residents have caught the virus and there are 2,328 staff cases. 1,383 residents have recovered from the virus, as have 2,285 staff.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg lashed on ABC for failure to vaccinate aged care workers

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been lashed on the ABC for the government’s sluggish and disordered rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine for Australia’s aged care workers.

It will be mandatory for aged-care workers to have at least one jab by the middle of September – only two weeks away.

But ABC news breakfast host Michael Rowland pointed out to the Treasurer that less than 20 per cent of aged-care homes across Australia are even close to fully vaccinating their staff.

“There is no way that target will be met, is there?” Rowland asked Mr Frydenberg on Wednesday.

Mr Frydenberg deflected blame, stating it was states’ responsibility to put the public health orders in place to achieve full vaccination coverage of the aged-care workforce.

“This was agreed again through national cabinet,” he said.

But the ABC host would not let Mr Frydenberg off the hook.

“These aged-care workers were to be vaccinated back in April,” Rowland said.

“You are the Treasurer, you know maths … there is a long distance between 19 per cent and 100 per cent in two weeks’ time.”

Mr Rowlands told Frydenberg there was “no way” that the mandatory vaccination target could be reached on time.

But the federal Treasurer dodged the question, again diverting blame to the Australia’s state Premiers.

“I know that only a few states have actually mandated it under their public health orders,” Frydenberg said.

“I think South Australia is one, I think Western Australia was another.

“It is important that all the states take that action, as agreed at national cabinet”

Mr Frydenberg said the nation was “making progress” in vaccinating aged care workers but would not clarify whether he believed the mandatory vaccination target would be reached by mid-September.

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