Belvedere Aged Care COVID-19 Cluster Update Friday 22nd October

Belvedere Aged Care is the site of a recent COVID-19 cluster with 34 residents tested positive to date. All infected residents are stable. Of the 8 staff who initially became infected with COVID-19, 3 are returning to work having received official clearance to end quarantine today. 5 staff remain in home quarantine.

4 residents are in hospital, and all other residents are isolating in their rooms. Sadly, 2 residents: an 88-year-old male and a 100-year-old male have lost their lives to the virus. We are deeply saddened by the death of 2 of our residents, an awful consequence of the COVID-pandemic. Our thoughts and prayers are with their loved ones at this sad time.

The cluster emerged as the result of a regular visitor attending Belvedere Aged Care while infectious with the Delta variant of COVID-19, on Tuesday 5 October. The visitor complied with testing requirements, providing a negative test result received within 48 hours prior to their arrival. However, the visitor subsequently tested positive for COVID-19 and, on 7 October, notified facility management.  

Belvedere immediately moved to enact the Outbreak Management Plan, notifying the Public Health Team. Staff cohorts work in designated wings to minimise the risk of transmission and the facility remains under restricted access. Strong infection controls are in place and a deep clean of the facility has been ongoing. Our systems and procedures are operating in accordance with all regulatory requirements and our own high standards of care.

We maintain daily communication with resident families and are providing clinical updates via phone calls to each resident’s nominated next-of-kin. Our first responsibility is to our residents and their loved ones. We are working hard to ensure lines of communication remain open and our actions are transparent.

All residents who have opted to be vaccinated have received both doses; at the time of this report, three of our residents exercised their choice to remain unvaccinated. Consistent with the current government vaccination mandate for aged care workers, all Belvedere staff are vaccinated.

Belvedere continues to act on advice from the Department of Health and medical authorities.

About Belvedere Aged Care.

Belvedere Aged Care is a 60-bed residential aged care facility that has operated in the community of South-East Melbourne for over 20 years. This is the only incidence of COVID-19 to have been experienced by the facility. For more information, visit www.belvedere.com.au

Contact: Daniele Noel, d.noel@belvedere.com.au, 03 9574 1355