Covid-related deaths, along with the number of cases and the number of Aussie facilities with active outbreaks have risen again according to a DoHAC report.
Covid continues to wreak havoc in Australia’s residential aged care facilities, with new data released by DoHAC today showing active outbreaks have passed the 300 mark, to 324 sites.
As of 16 November there were 2425 active covid cases in 324 active outbreaks in RACFs across Australia.
There have been 137 new outbreaks, 48 new resident deaths and 2050 combined new resident and staff cases reported since 9 November, the report also revealed.
Victoria has the highest number of facilities with active outbreaks (106), followed by NSW (92), Queensland (47), South Australia (40), Western Australia (30), Tasmania (4), the ACT (3) and the Northern Territory (2).
Worryingly, the number of aged care facility residents who have had a covid booster in the six months to 15 November has fallen markedly since the previous reporting period (43% as of 1 November) to just 37%.
This number is lowest in the Queensland (33%), followed by NSW (36%), the Northern Territory (37%), Western Australia and South Australia (both 38%), Victoria (40%) and the ACT (41%).
“All aged care residents who have not had a covid vaccination, or a covid infection within the last six months, continue to be offered a 2023 booster dose,” said DoHAC’s report.
“The added protection from vaccination is especially important for aged care residents and will help reduce the risk of severe illness or hospitalisation.
“The Department continues to work with primary health networks to support residential aged care homes across Australia to arrange covid vaccination in-reach clinics with local primary care providers such as GPs, pharmacists, and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.”
The report also lists every Australian residential aged care service with an active covid outbreak (as of 8am 16 November). See the list here.
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