Anxious wait for aged-care residents

RESIDENTS at a Highton nursing home remained isolated in their rooms on Wednesday, as the facility awaits results of a mass testing operation following a staff member being diagnosed with coronavirus.

Opal South Valley went into lockdown on Monday after a personal care assistant tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday night. That person last worked at the aged care home on Tuesday last week.

Barwon Health visited the facility on Tuesday to provide expert advice and test all residents and staff.

Test results for staff and residents at Opal South Valley were expected in the next 24 hours, Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said on Wednesday afternoon.

Ms Bibby confirmed an unwell resident was transferred to University Hospital Geelong on Tuesday. That patient had been tested for coronavirus and was awaiting a result.

Barwon Health remained on site at the facility on Wednesday, and would attend as long as necessary, Ms Bibby said. “Residents will be supported to stay at Opal South Valley unless they require hospital care,” she said.

An Opal Aged Care spokeswoman said the provider was working very closely with Barwon Health.

“The Public Health Unit requires residents to isolate in their rooms when a home is in lockdown, as our residents are doing,” she said. “We are communicating with family members every day, and we are very focused on ensuring our residents stay closely connected with loved ones through Zoom, Facetime, phone calls and message boards.”