Health authorities in NSW have confirmed four new coronavirus infections, bringing the state's total to 3,036.
Key points:
- NSW's Chief Health Officer defended workers at Newmarch House
- More than 60 staff and residents at the facility have been infected
- Staff there are being tested for COVID-19 daily
Three of the cases are staff members at the Newmarch House aged care home in Western Sydney, where there has been a cluster of COVID-19 cases.
Fifteen people have died at the Caddens nursing home where a staff member worked six shifts last month despite displaying mild coronavirus symptoms.
The crisis deepened yesterday when the facility's operator, Anglicare, asked healthcare contractor Aspen Medical to stand down one of its staff at Newmarch House, over alleged breaches of infection control at the centre.
"It is our understanding that this staff member was asymptomatic … they are now self-isolating," Anglicare said in a statement.
More than 60 staff and residents at Newmarch House have contracted the virus.
NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said the COVID-19 cases at the aged-care facility were detected through the daily testing regime authorities introduced at the weekend.
Dr Chant defended the Newmarch House workers who were receiving criticism for potentially spreading the coronavirus.
"It's quite challenging to wear full [personal protective equipment] and interact with patients," she said.
"It's not a controlled environment… in the end we want care and compassion for those [residents]."
Another one of NSW's four new coronavirus cases was a healthcare worker in the Nepean-Blue Mountains district, who did not work while infectious.
Dr Chant said investigations were underway to trace the source of that infection.
Health authorities were also investigating whether the asymptomatic aged-care employee who worked six shifts was the original source of the virus within the facility.
The Chief Health Officer said authorities were awaiting the results of a blood test to determine if the worker was the "index case" for the facility.
"We are tracking down one other source that may [mean] there may have been someone else in the facility," Dr Chant said.
"What we're just trying to confirm is, what was her source of infection? Did she acquire in the community and bring it in … or was there someone preceding her associated with the facility?"
The latest figures come as the NSW Government said it was partnering with local universities and manufacturers to produce ventilators.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said two prototypes were already underway — one being produced by students at the University of Sydney and another by an electrical engineering company in Newcastle.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiXmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA1LTA1L25ld21hcmNoLWhvdXNlLWNvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNsdXN0ZXItZ2V0cy1iaWdnZXIvMTIyMTI5NTDSASdodHRwczovL2FtcC5hYmMubmV0LmF1L2FydGljbGUvMTIyMTI5NTA?oc=5
2020-05-04 23:05:13Z
52780760209495
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Newmarch House coronavirus cluster grows after three more staff test positive - ABC News"
Post a Comment