Goya Dmytryshchak
An Altona Meadows nursing home has stopped using agency staff after confirming a new case of COVID-19.
One worker at Benetas St George’s residential aged care had tested positive after last working there while asymptomatic on July 3.
A total of 287 tests were carried out on residents, employees and contractors at the home and all came back negative.
However, an agency worker who attended the home last Friday was subsequently confirmed to have COVID-19.
Benetas chief executive Sandra Hills said the worker was sent home with symptoms after two hours.
“Contact tracing of the agency staff member’s movements at St George’s was completed on the weekend and self isolation of all employee close contacts was implemented within hours,” she said.
“All residents were already being cared for in their rooms so any identified as close contacts were already in self isolation.
“We do not believe that the latest July 17 case was related to the previous July 7 case, where a Benetas employee also received a positive COVID-19 test result.”
Meanwhile, Sacca’s Fine Foods at Altona Gate shopping centre in Altona North remains closed and management is urging customers who shopped there from July 8-12 to get tested if they feel unwell.
An infected employee last worked at the fruit and vegetable market and continental deli on Sunday, July 12 and had been asymptomatic.
“Whilst our store is closed, staff that have been in close contact with the team member that tested positive have been asked to get tested and to self isolate,” Sacca’s said in a statement.
“We can confirm that the affected staff member worked from Wednesday, July 8 through to Sunday, July 12.
“We recommend that any customers who shopped at our Altona Gate store on any of the above dates and has since felt unwell or displayed any symptoms to get tested.
“As a precaution it has been decided that to ensure the protection of all staff and customers that we will close the store until further notice.”
