Second Sydney nursing home facing COVID-19 infection
A second Sydney nursing home has forced into lockdown after a worker at the facility in the city’s west tested positive to COVID-19.
The contract cleaner at the Minchinbury Manor tested positive to the virus, sending 134 residents into strict lockdown conditions.
The case comes after six residents from the Summitcare nursing home in Baulkham Hills contracted COVID-19 earlier this month.
So far, all those tested for the virus at Minichinbury Manor have returned negative results, indicating the COVID-19 vaccine could be providing effective protection against a potentially deadly outbreak.
Of the 134 residents, 121 have had the jab and 90 per cent of the staff have also been immunised.
The remaining 10 per cent are expected to be given their jabs in the coming days.
“I think we are all very aware of the vulnerability of residential aged care facilities. But what is pleasing to see as that in a highly vaccinated resident population, we haven’t seen the outbreaks grow,” NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said.
However, Minchinbury Manor is not reflective of vaccination levels across the aged care sector.
Only 40 per cent the workforce has received at least one jab, with the vaccine to become mandatory from September.
Kathie Melecco, the daughter of two residents at the Summitcare nursing home infected with COVID-19, says the vaccinated numbers aren’t high enough.
“To think a whole group of other people are going through this, I can’t understand why we dont have more controls in place about aged care,” Ms Melocco said.
Her parents, Alan and Lona Patrick, are among six residents currently in Westmead Hospital being treated for the coronavirus.
“It’s been rough eight or nine days. A vaccine, when elderly, gives you a chance,” Ms Melocco said.
The other four residents remain asymptomatic however were taken to hospital as a precaution.
