Benjamin Millar
Emergency medical reinforcements have swept into the Doutta Galla Yarraville Village aged care facility, where almost 60 residents and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 and seven people have died.
The coronavirus outbreak at Doutta Galla Yarraville Village began at the start of August and has now spread to 33 residents and 25 staff.
Two residents have died at the facility and a further five have died after being transferred to hospitals.
At least 18 residents and 22 staff have also tested positive at Doutta Gala’s Footscray Aged Care Home, with the loss of four lives.
Doutta Gala said in a statement that Yarraville Village has been “set up” under the guidance of the Australian Medical Assessment Team (AUSMAT) and Western Health “to create an environment to manage the infectious nature of this virus”.
Star Weekly understands about two dozen COVID-19 positive residents remain at the home with the remainder transferred to hospitals over recent days.
Doutta Galla Aged Services chief executive Vanda Iaconese said the situation continues to be difficult for residents and families, particularly when families are unable to be close in contact with their loved ones.
“The management of our facility is, however, under control to the best possible extent,” she said in a statement.
“Our emergency response plan was immediately activated, and we have been working collaboratively with state and federal aged care authorities and health services, Western Health and AUSMAT.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed on Sunday that 58 cases have been linked to the facility after 33 residents and 25 staff tested positive.
Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said the Victorian Aged Care Response Centre was treating Yarraville as “a top priority”, with AUSMAT specialist teams and a clinical first nurse responder sent in.
“We are very aware of the challenges being faced at this site,” the minister said.
“The workforce is being supplemented to help stabilise the situation, but we are aware there may still be some deficiencies and that is being actively managed.”
It follows an Altona North nursing home being taken over by a state government health service after being linked to 24 COVID-19 cases.
Florence Aged Care Facility has 16 residents and eight staff infected, the Department of Health and Human Services said on Friday.
