By Laura Michell
A coronavirus outbreak at an Epping aged care facility has grown rapidly in recent days to become one of the state’s largest aged care clusters.
Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton today revealed there are 77 cases of COVID-19 at Epping Gardens aged care.
On July 21, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) said two cases were linked to the aged care facility.
On Sunday, DHHS said the cluster had grown to 24 cases.
An outbreak at St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner is the state’s largest aged care cluster, with 84 cases. There are also 82 cases at Estia Health in Ardeer.
Professor Sutton said the growing number of cases in aged care facilities was a consequence of community transmission.
“Where there are outbreaks in aged care, the mortality rate is extremely high,” he said.
“These will be peoples’ parents, grandparents and great grandparents and they are at great risk of dying.”
Three residents at Arcare Aged Care’s Craigieburn facility have died in the past week, with the outbreak growing to 45 people on Saturday.
Arcare chief executive Colin Singh said 23 residents, 20 team members and two allied health professionals have tested positive for the virus.
Mr Singh said appropriate infection control measures had been put in place to limit the spread of the virus
“We understand this is a very worrying time and we’d like to reassure all families and friends of Arcare Craigieburn that we are putting all available resources in place to effectively manage the situation,” he said.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the federal government was working with Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to transfer aged care residents who have tested positive to coronavirus out of their facilities and into private hospitals.
