A NURSE at a government-run aged care home who contracted COVID-19 was working while awaiting test results and displaying symptoms, putting 115 residents and 180 workers at risk.
The Rockhampton home has been put into lockdown and 70 of the nurse’s close contacts are in quarantine amid warnings of “a perfect storm” for a cluster to emerge, similar to the devastating situation that led to the deaths of 16 elderly people at Newmarch House in NSW.
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A library at CQUniversity was also shut yesterday after she attended the facility on campus multiple times while infectious.
Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Steve Williamson revealed the circumstances prior to the nurse’s diagnosis were being investigated, including why she was working after being tested.
“The nurse was onsite after being symptomatic and after being sent for testing,” Mr Williamson said.
“That’s outside the direction we’ve set for our staff and we will look into that further – in detail – but our focus currently is 100 per cent on ensuring safety in the facility.”
The nurse was likely infectious since returning from a trip to Brisbane on May 3 and had continued to work at North Rockhampton Nursing Centre, Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said.
It is understood she was granted an exemption from her GP to travel to Brisbane amid coronavirus restrictions.
Queensland Health confirmed rapid tests for COVID-19 carried out on 63 residents and staff members came back negative yesterday.
Testing for the remaining residents and staff is ongoing.
Dr Young said: “Coronavirus inside a residential aged care facility can have significant consequences and we are taking this very seriously.”
Nurses’ Professional Association of Queensland boss Phill Tsingos said it was “the perfect storm” for a cluster.
“This is where you’re going to start having a cluster,” he said.
“They (health authorities) have to find every person this worker has been in contact with, every minute of the day, work out where she went, for almost two weeks.
“This facility has 115 beds and 180 staff, and then you’ve got relatives coming in and seeing those clients as well, so how far did this (virus) go?”
He questioned how it could happen at a state-run facility, and backed the State Opposition’s calls for an inquiry.
The centre looks after high-care residents with dementia.
The home passed its last three audits by federal government inspectors, in 2011, 2014 and 2017.
Dr Young urged anyone in Rockhampton who had symptoms – no matter how mild – to visit the local fever clinic or their GP to get tested.
“It is likely this person has been infectious for almost two weeks and has been in the community on several occasions,” she said.
“It’s important that anyone who feels unwell – even slightly unwell – gets tested and self-isolate until they know the results. That will help us determine if there has been community transmission of COVID-19 and, if there has, act to stop the spread.”
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMikQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jb3VyaWVybWFpbC5jb20uYXUvY29yb25hdmlydXMvbnVyc2Utd2l0aC1jb3ZpZDE5LXdhcy13b3JraW5nLXdoaWxlLWF3YWl0aW5nLXRlc3QtcmVzdWx0cy9uZXdzLXN0b3J5L2M5NjA4MWNjZWFiMTk4MTBlMDIxMTgyMTM1ZTI1ZDVi0gEA?oc=5
2020-05-15 14:23:48Z
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