There are more than 400 active outbreaks in RACFs across the country – see if your local facility is affected.
Covid continues to wreak havoc on aged care facilities across the country, new figures released on Monday by the Department of Health and Aged care reveal.
According to the department’s national snapshot of covid outbreaks in RACFs, there were 3192 active covid cases in 419 active outbreaks as of 18 January.
In the seven days to 18 January there were 150 new outbreaks, 38 new resident deaths and 1796 new resident and 902 new staff cases reported.
Despite these numbers, only 30% of aged care residents have received a covid booster dose in the past six months. The percentage is highest in the ACT (42%), followed by Tasmania (39%), South Australia (33%), NSW and Victoria (both 31%), Queensland (28%), the Northern Territory (27%) and Western Australia (25%).
The DOHAC report also listed every residential aged care service in Australia with active covid outbreaks. See here for the full list.
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New South Wales has the greatest number of active outbreaks (148 facilities), followed by Victoria (101), Queensland (77), Western Australia (47), South Australia (34), Tasmania (nine), and the ACT (three). No outbreaks have been reported in Northern Territory facilities.
The department said all aged care residents who have not had a covid vaccination or a covid infection within the past six months continued to be offered a booster dose.
“The Department continues to work with Primary Health Networks to support residential aged care homes across Australia to arrange Covid-19 vaccination in-reach clinics with local primary care providers such as GPs, pharmacists, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services,” it said.
