– 19 March 2020 –
From our CEO:
Over the past week, there has been a major escalation in the worldwide and Australian responses to the Coronavirus pandemic, with a state of emergency declared here in Victoria.
Data so far indicates that older people and those with other health conditions have less resistance to Coronavirus and the worst outcomes from an infection. Our responsibility to our community of residents, ex-service unit tenants and home care consumers is to do everything we can to ensure their protection from the Coronavirus: we take our responsibility very seriously.
Government Advice
As stated by the federal Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Richard Colbeck, the tough measures are the best way to protect older and vulnerable Australians living in aged care. The Department of Health has issued these instructions for all aged care homes:
The following visitors and staff (including visiting workers) are not permitted entry to aged care facilities:
1. Those who have returned from overseas in the last 14 days
2. Those who have been in contact with anyone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the last 14 days
Note: ‘contact’ is defined as being with a person with a confirmed case including the 24 hours before the person showed any symptoms
3. Those with fever or symptoms of acute respiratory infection (eg cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath)
4. Those who have not been vaccinated against influenza (flu) after 1 May 2020
The Department of Health has also directed that for other visitors:
1. Visits are short in duration
2. Two visitors maximum are permitted at one time per day: these may be immediate social supports (ie family members, close friends) or professional service or advocacy providers
3. Visits must be in the resident’s room, outdoors, or in a specific area designated by the facility; not in communal areas where the risk of transmission to residents is higher
4. No large group visits or gatherings are permitted, including activities or entertainment
5. No school groups of any size are permitted to visit
Visitors are strongly encouraged to practice social distancing, maintaining a distance of 1.5m where possible.
If you have been following our advice and precautions over the last few weeks, you will be aware that we have been going a step further than the government has directed.
We are continuing to take a pro-active approach to this crisis and our Coronavirus Emergency Management Committee met late yesterday to discuss the government’s instructions: they have made the decision to go a step further in preparing for what could potentially be a long term management process.
For our five residential aged care homes, we have therefore taken the decision to implement a temporary precautionary lockdown as a preemptive measure to protect our vulnerable community.
This action will immediately reduce the risk to our community and enable us to plan and prepare sustainable measures for the effective management of this potentially lengthy situation, measures that are practical, workable and provide the best balance between protection and access.
We are asking you to be patient and not to visit your loved one for the next seven days as we review and readjust access to our five homes.
Please note that we do not currently have any suspected or confirmed cases of Coronavirus.
For more information on our precautionary measures, please follow the link below.
The lockdown will commence at 5pm today, Thursday 19 March 2020.
We are sensitive to the differing circumstances of our residents and their families and are particularly sympathetic to those in end of life care: in these circumstances, we ask that you contact the clinical staff at your loved one’s home to discuss visiting options.
We will do everything in our power to protect our residents and to bring them safely through this crisis: I have asked our staff to do all they can to protect them and to continue to Serve Those Who Served.
I am now calling on you to support our actions and decisions in the best interest of your loved one: I am asking for your full understanding and commitment to helping protect our entire community.
Janna Voloshin, CEO
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