Goya Dmytryshchak
A Maidstone aged care facility remains in lockdown after a resident and two workers tested positive to COVID-19.
Arcare chief executive Colin Singh said the first employee last worked at the facility on Thursday, had worn a mask and displayed no symptoms.
He said the second worker, who also worked at BlueCross Western Gardens in Sunshine, had not been vaccinated on May 12 as she was on personal leave.
Mr Singh said the resident had received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
“The resident is displaying mild symptoms,” he said.
“However, we are transferring them to hospital where their condition can be closely monitored.
“The team members also have mild symptoms and are recovering at home.
“Arcare can confirm 53 of the 76 residents at Maidstone consented to receive the vaccine and have received one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.”
On Tuesday, there were 63 active cases in Victoria, including 54 cases in the current outbreak.
The Arcare resident remained in hospital for observation on Tuesday, Mr Singh said.
He said second doses had been brought forward to Monday and all workers would be offered their first or second dose Tuesday.
A second round of testing will be carried out Tuesdsay.
Residents are self-isolating and workers are wearing full personal protective equipment.
“We have sufficient PPE and all other supplies necessary to continue to provide support and services to our clients and team safely,” Mr Singh said.
“I want to assure you that whilst we hoped that this would not happen again we are well prepared and our infection control practices put us in a good place to manage this outbreak effectively.”
In a letter to residents, families and staff, BlueCross chief executive Robert Putamorsi said residents were quarantined in their rooms and currently symptom free.
“We have enacted all aspects of our COVID-19 management plan and confirm that 76 per cent of our residents have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” he stated.
The Royal Freemasons Footscray facility also went into lockdown as a precaution due to one of its employees working at Arcare in the past week.
“All residents and staff returned negative test results,” Freemasons spokesman Jacques de la Porte said.
“The Footscray staff member, a tier two contact, returned a negative test result.
“Given this, the Department of Health advised that the Footscray home can ‘stand down’ and return to normal operations.”
The 406 and 412 bus routes have been listed as tier 1 exposure sites for several dates and times.
These include:
Bus 412 from Paisley Street/Footscray to Millers Road/Geelong between 2.39pm and 2.52pm on Thursday
Bus 412 from Central Square Shopping Centre/Merton Street to Footscray station between 5.40am and 6.25am on Thursday
Bus 406 from Footscray station to Emu Road/Hampstead Road (Maidstone), between 6.34am and 6.50am on Wednesday
Bus 406 from Emu Road/Smith Street to Footscray station between 1.28pm and 1.44pm on Wednesday
Bus 412 from Central Square Shopping Centre/Merton Street to Footscray station between 5.40am and 6.25am on Wednesday
Footscray Market shops, Thai Huy Butcher and Inday Filipino Asian Store, have been listed as tier 1 sites and the rest of the market as a tier 2 site.
Highpoint shopping centre has undergone a deep clean after previously being named a tier 1 and 2 exposure site.
A spokesperson said the centre would remain open for food, groceries, household items, products, medical services and banking, but some retailers were temporarily closed.
“The heightened cleaning regimes already implemented will remain in place, which include free hand sanitiser throughout the centre, and an increase in cleaning frequency across high touch surfaces (eg hand rails and lift buttons), food courts, entrances and exits,” the spokesperson said.
For the most up to date exposure sites, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites
