An update about IRT Thomas Holt Kirrawee Aged Care Centre

5 August 2022

Dear family member/resident representative

Thank you for your support as we have managed the outbreak of COVID-19 in your loved ones aged care centre over the past weeks.

We have now received the remainder of the PCR results and I’m glad to report that all were negative.

Our last three residents from level two of the Flame Tree building who have been recovering in the COVID-19 wing have also now reached their full recovery criteria and are free of the virus. These three residents are being transferred back to their rooms today.

With this pleasing news, the local public health unit has officially closed the outbreak at our care centre and provided us with guidance to begin our transition back to regular operations, including a resumption of regular visiting arrangements from today.

Visiting arrangements

With the outbreak now officially resolved, regular visiting can resume from today as follows:

• There is no limit to the number of visitors (of any age) that a resident can have at any one time. I do ask that you be mindful of the surrounding environment and size of your loved one’s room.
• All visitors are asked to complete their own rapid antigen test at home or on arrival at the centre and provide proof of the negative result (photo or actual test). The station at the care centre is self-serve so our staff can be more available to residents in their roles as carers.
• If a visitor is unable to complete their own rapid antigen test they will need to make an appointment at the care centre for the test to be conducted by staff prior to entry. Contact numbers for staff to assist are displayed at self-serve rapid antigen testing stations.
• Unless, as above, assistance is required with rapid antigen testing on entry appointments for visits are no longer required.
• All visitors are to complete the wellness questionnaire on arrival. This includes confirmation that they have had at least 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine and the 2022 influenza vaccine.
• All visitors must wear surgical masks when visiting a resident in their room or a P2N95 mask if visiting a resident in common areas (in this case, the care centre will provide visitors with the P2N95 mask).
• No cloth masks are permitted.

As always please do not visit your loved one if you are experiencing any symptoms or are feeling unwell, even if the symptoms are mild. Even if you have a negative COVID-19 test result you may still have influenza or another virus which is highly contagious.

Please pass this message on to others as you consider appropriate and if you have any questions please contact your Care Manager.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Yours sincerely

Nia Briguglio

EGM – Aged Care Centres