The Department of Health has released a data snapshot of residential aged care facilities which have recorded COVID-19 infections.
Minister for Aged Care and Senior Australians, Senator Richard Colbeck said the new weekly report, COVID-19 outbreaks in Australian residential aged care facilities, provided greater transparency for residents and their families about the ongoing situation in aged care facilities.
“It will complement the existing reporting of COVID-19 in Australia, including the aged care totals reported daily,” Senator Colbeck said.
“The data includes all aged care facilities where there has been more than one case in either a staff member or resident,” he said.
“It shows that of the 2,706 aged care facilities in Australia, 213 – or eight per cent – have had cases of COVID-19.”
Senator Colbeck said the data didn’t include details on facilities that had only had a single case of the virus.
“The report compares the current impact of COVID-19 in residential aged care to previous influenza outbreaks and demonstrates how Australia is performing internationally,” he said.
“Supports described in the report include testing, workforce and personal protective equipment support to help the aged care sector with its response to this pandemic.”
The Senator said the Report would be updated weekly.
The Department’s 13-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
