29 September 2022
Dear family member/resident representative,
I’m writing to provide you with an update on our residents with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and to let you know we also have some additional residents receiving treatment for a contagious skin infection.
Firstly, I’m pleased to let you know that all of our residents in Callala House who were previously diagnosed with RSV have now fully recovered from the virus.
We are still caring for one resident with RSV in Comerong House. This resident is showing signs of improvement and we are hopeful they will also be deemed fully recovered soon.
Unfortunately, however, five of our residents in Callala House have now been diagnosed with a contagious skin infection and, in consultation with their GPs, have commenced appropriate treatment. The residents are isolating in their rooms with strict infection control protocols being followed in their care, and apart from experiencing some mild symptoms, all residents are regarded as stable.
I will continue to provide updates like this one, but if you are talking to your loved one and have any concerns, please do not hesitate to speak to the Care Manager.
Visiting arrangements
Callala and Comerong Houses
We encourage you to reconsider any planned visits to these two areas of the care centre at this time. If you do wish to proceed with your visit, please contact the care centre to discuss your plans and you will be guided on how to make it as safe as possible.
All other areas of the care centre
Visiting arrangements for all other areas are outlined below.
- There is no limit to the number of visitors (of any age) that a resident can have at any one time.
- 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 stations at the care centre are 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.
- Appointments for visits are not required, unless, as above, assistance is required with rapid antigen testing on entry.
- 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.
- 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.
If you are visiting after-hours and on the 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 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 support.
Yours sincerely
Nia Briguglio
EGM – Aged Care Centres
