Covid cases increase in aged care homes

Covid cases are on the rise in residential aged care amid warnings of new waves of infection.

According to the latest government figures, as of 6 April, there were 1,513 active cases of Covid-19 across 236 aged care homes around Australia – 1,078 among residents, 435 among staff.

The latest data confirms an upward trend in outbreaks in aged care homes with an increase in cases recorded week on week over the past six weeks.

There were around 900 Covid cases recorded in aged care homes in the first couple of weeks of March. This grew to 1,300 cases during the remainder of the month before landing at just over 1,500 cases during the first week of April – an increase over the period of more than 65 per cent.

The recent rise in cases prompted the CEO of industry peak the Aged & Community Care Providers Association to remind people that the threat of infection “remains a very real risk” for the sector.

“We’ve seen an increase in the past month in cases in the community among older people who are living in residential aged care or being supported by home care services,” said Tom Symondson. “For aged care providers, Covid is still happening and it remains a major public health issue.”

Since Covid restrictions were lifted late last year, the onus has been on aged care providers to implement rules for visitors of residents in aged care, said Mr Symondson.

“We ask that as Covid cases increase and the flu season approaches those wishing to visit loved ones in aged care to please comply with the rules so that older, vulnerable residents are protected. We remind visitors to aged care to not visit if they are feeling unwell and when they do visit to follow any instructions or requests from staff.”

The rise also prompted a warning from Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler that the pandemic “was not over” and “future waves of Covid” would likely occur across the course of the year.

In response, the government has expanded measures to protect vulnerable populations.

From the 1 April, Australians aged 60 to 69 with only one risk factor – rather than two – have been granted free access to the antiviral treatment Paxlovid.

Also from 1 April, new aged care worker Covid leave payment grants of $750 have been made available to support staff caring for those most at risk of severe illness.

The grants:

• reimburse providers for leave paid to directly permanent or casual aged care workers
• cover employees who cannot work due to Covid-19 and have no other leave entitlements.

The extra measures follow a revised Covid management plan released in December 2022.

When asked earlier this month whether Australia would see a continued rise in Covid cases as the year progresses, national chief medical officer Paul Kelly said it was hard to call.

“I don’t have a crystal ball,” he said. Describing the current situation as a “ripple”, Mr Kelly added: “Whether that will turn into a wave, it’s difficult to predict at this stage.”

Since the pandemic began in early 2020, there have been 13,615 Covid cases across 2,812 aged care facilities resulting in the deaths of more than 5,000 residents.

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