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The number of COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care homes are trending down for the first time in weeks, according to Australia’s weekly aged care report.
As of August 5 there were 952 active outbreaks in aged care homes nationally, down from 1,064 the previous week.
NSW reported active outbreaks in 310 facilities, down from 344.
Despite around 40 per cent of facilities grappling with active outbreaks nationwide, Queensland also reported a slight decline from 231 to 201.
The number of Covid-19 infections inside aged care homes surged in July, peaking at more than 15,000 positive tests among residents.
As of last week, there were 14,554 resident cases associated with active outbreaks.
Recent analysis by the Actuaries Institute found there were 7,100 Covid deaths in the first seven months of 2022, making it the third leading cause of death in Australia this year.
Aged care residents accounted for 2,642 Covid-19 related deaths in 2022, surpassing the 917 total deaths recorded in 2020 and 2021.
Who gets a pay rise is 'complex', minister said
As Covid-19 continues to impact thousands of aged care residents and staff across the country, the government has promised to fund a potential pay rise for workers.
This week, a submission made to the fair work commission by federal Labor argued that existing pay rates did not reflect the value and skills of aged care work.
On Tuesday, aged care minister Anika Wells slammed the opposition for raising questions over who will fund a pay boost during a parliament discussion.
“These aren't newly underpaid workers, these are people who could earn more stacking shelves at Woolies,” Wells told the media.
“That government, and now that opposition, knew about for nine years and did nothing about.
“I can understand that they appear baffled by the idea that a government might have to pay for pay rises, but I can't believe after everything we have all been through as a country [...] that they still don't understand this is what Australians want to do.”
When asked if aged care workers in palliative care would receive a wage rise, the minister said the issue was "complex", adding that the fair work decision will “affect a number of different awards”.
The minister stressed the issue of workforce attraction and retention would not be wholly resolved by a pay rise, but a cultural shift in perceptions of care work.
“Until we value care more, we're not going to have people who want to do that care work feel like their country recognises the complexity and meaningfulness of what they do,” she said.
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