Aged care facilities across Orange are implementing precautions to protect staff and residents from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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A Uniting spokesman said the emergency response plan for Uniting Wontama was built on existing outbreak planning and preparations, including infection control processes that were already in place.
"This community health issue is receiving the highest levels of attention in our organisation. We are also working closely with local public health units," the spokesman said.
He said staff at the aged care facility had reviewed and tested plans and preparations across various scenarios based on advice from health agencies about the potential spread of the virus.
To date, no residents or staff have developed any symptoms to worry about.
- Calare Aged Care, spokeswoman
"Our immediate and top priority has been the health and wellbeing of our residents and team members," the spokesman said.
"This includes providing advice and guidance to our services about immediate actions to take, and ensuring they have the necessary supplies, including protective equipment.
He said Uniting would continue to review the infection control measures and outbreak planning and would provide regular updates as needed to employees, residents and their families.
"At Uniting Wontama we have also taken the precaution of pausing our regular school visits," he said.
"As the government has advised, the situation is complex, rapidly changing and unprecedented. We would like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of our team members and the support from NSW Health and other health professionals."
A spokeswoman for Calare Aged Care said like most health and aged care groups across Australia, the facility has rigorous infection prevention and control procedures it follows during flu season every year.
"In addition to our usual processes and protocols for infection prevention and control, we have taken extra measures over recent weeks to protect the health and safety of our residents and employees as the COVID-19 situation unfolds," she said.
Our immediate and top priority has been the health and wellbeing of our residents and team members.
- Uniting Wontama, spokesman
"We would like to remind the community that as advised by the Department of Health, the safest place for elderly people already living in aged care is to remain in their aged care homes. Everything that we do in our homes to protect residents and employees is aligned to this advice." she said.
The spokeswoman said staff were also undertaking additional disinfection cleaning in all communal areas of all homes even where no one has any cold or flu-like symptoms.
"This, of course, is in addition to making sure everyone is following appropriate personal and professional hygiene practices as outlined by the health authorities," she said.
"In addition, in line with the Australian Government's recent travel advice update, any visitor who has travelled overseas to any country in the past 14 days is required to self-monitor for symptoms, practice social distancing as much as possible, immediately isolate themselves if they become unwell and avoid visiting Calare.
"As we enter the flu season, we will be extra vigilant with cold and flu symptoms. When in doubt, we will test residents and staff, and we may need to take precautionary measures with self-isolation and temporary entry restrictions to visitors."
She said the plan was standard practice in the aged care industry and was an effective way of controlling the spread of infection and make sure the aged care facility is a step ahead of any possible COVID-19 contamination.
"To date, no residents or staff have developed any symptoms to worry about, but should the need arise, we have plans in place to escalate procedures to meet any confirmed cases of COVID-19," she said.
"We have been regularly communicating with our staff, residents, their families and other visitors. All information we provide is in line with advice from local health authorities."
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