COVID-19 aged care deaths a concern, crisis ‘in full swing’

More than 60 aged care residents in Australia are dying with COVID-19 every week, a study of Federal Government data shows.

While many think the Omicron wave of the virus has passed, the health data gathered by the United Workers Union (UWU) reveals 596 aged care facilities have recorded at least one COVID death this year.

“How can we lose more than 350 senior Australians to COVID since the election campaign was launched and no one is talking about this,” UWU aged care director Carolyn Smith said on Thursday.

“The Omicron crisis continues to play havoc with active outbreaks in more than 750 aged care facilities, distressing locked-up aged care residents, devastating families and causing unbearable workloads for aged care workers.

“For aged care workers working double shifts in full PPE there has been no let-up and the aged care crisis is in full swing.”

Almost 60,000 new cases of COVID-19 and 53 deaths were reported nationwide on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, aged care workers in South Australia and Queensland will walk off the job on Friday in a continuation of industrial action for higher wages and more care time.

“Aged care workers are continuing to turn up to care for residents while these political leaders are only turning up for campaign photo opps,” Ms Smith said.

LATEST 24-HOUR COVID-19 DATA

NSW: 10,964 cases, 22 deaths, 1283 in hospital with 46 in ICU

Victoria: 13,201 cases, 14 deaths, 512 in hospital with 32 in ICU

Tasmania: 1076 cases, two deaths, 43 in hospital with two in ICU

AAP