26 September 2023

Health gives aged care a shot in the arm

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Queensland Health has laid down the law to residential aged care facilities demanding they take extra precautions to protect their residents from the current pandemic.

Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young said that following the cluster of COVID-19 cases in Brisbane’s south, it was important to protect the community’s most vulnerable members.

Dr Young said the restrictions included no personal visitors (including care and support visitors), but end-of-life visits will still be allowed, and anyone entering a facility must wear a single-use surgical face mask.

She said residents could not leave the aged care facility unless they were receiving health care, attending a funeral, or for an emergency or compassionate reasons for which exemptions could be provided by the residential aged care facility or the Chief Health Officer.

Dr Young said that in addition, residential aged care facility operators must limit staff movements across multiple facilities as much as possible.

“COVID-19 is a serious illness for all age groups,” Dr Young said.

“However, we do know the risks tend to increase among the elderly, particularly those with other serious health conditions,” she said.

“These restrictions are important steps in helping Queensland respond effectively to this recent outbreak. We are focused on making these changes early on in our response and across a broad geographical area.”

Dr Young said restrictions on aged care facilities were the most effective way of protecting Queensland’s most vulnerable people.

Minister for Health, Steven Miles said the move followed significant outbreaks in aged care facilities in Victoria.

“Currently, there are more than 1,000 active cases relating to outbreaks at aged care facilities in Victoria. This is a desperately sad situation, and one in which we must do everything in our power to stop from happening here in Queensland,” Mr Miles said.

“This is the best way we can protect the lives of Queenslanders, including those who are most at risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”

The latest information about the aged care restrictions can be accessed at this PS News link.

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