Victoria’s workplace safety watchdog is investigating at least 50 aged care homes over suspected health and safety breaches during last year’s deadly COVID-19 outbreak as the coronavirus again threatens the state’s vulnerable elderly residents.
Benetas St Georges in Altona Meadows has had 70 COVID-19 cases in total, including 38 staff and 32 residents. Twelve of the infected residents died. Japara has had outbreaks in eight different Victorian facilities, with the highest number of resident deaths at Japara Goonawarra in Sunbury where 20 people died.
The federally funded and regulated private aged care sector has previously pointed the finger for some of the COVID-19 aged care crisis at the federal government, with more than “It’s no secret there has been tragedy in aged care over the course of COVID-19. It’s been an extremely difficult time for everyone, including older people, families separated from their loved ones and not least our workers who have been stretched to the limits,” he said.