16 September 2022
Dear family member/resident representative
I am writing to provide you with an update about your loved one’s aged care centre.
We have received the results of our last round of PCR tests and pleasingly all were negative.
In further good news, two of our residents who were previously diagnosed with COVID-19 have reached their full recovery criteria and are now free of the virus. These residents are being transferred back to their rooms on Level 4 today.
We continue to care for five residents in our COVID-19 wing on Level 1. All residents are stable and are experiencing symptoms ranging from mild to none at all. We are expecting some of these residents to reach their full recovery criteria over the weekend too, pending a final review.
To minimise the risk of transmission we are still encouraging residents on Levels 1 and 4 of the Flametree building to remain in their rooms. We do understand that this can be challenging for some, so the Lifestyle team is providing support where needed with escorted walks, one-on-one activities, and helping residents connect with family and friends by phone and video calls.
We will be doing another round of PCR tests tomorrow for residents on Level 4 who haven’t already tested positive to COVID-19. We will also be doing some precautionary testing for all residents on Level 1 in Roden Cutler House due to an unrelated exposure.
We will provide you with another update early next week which will include the test results and hopefully news of more residents reaching their full recovery criteria.
Visiting arrangements
Flametree Level 4 and Level 1
While the risk of COVID-19 transmission remains within these areas, visiting is strongly discouraged. Please contact the Care Manager to discuss any plans to visit and you will be guided on how to make it as COVID-19-safe as possible.
All other areas of the care centre
There are no changes to visiting in all other areas of the care centre. If you are visiting after-hours and on a weekend, please be patient while waiting for staff to open the door. If they don’t respond immediately it is because they are caring for a resident, but will respond as soon as they are able.
Please note that if you have had COVID-19 you must not enter an aged care centre until 10 days has passed from your diagnosis day, and you have no symptoms.
As is always the case, please do not visit your loved one if you are experiencing any symptoms or are feeling unwell 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
