REMEMBER WHEN

A BENOWA nursing home resident hospitalised with gastroenteritis symptoms died while a Tweed aged care facility restricted public access after a suspected outbreak of the illness.

An 85-year-old palliative care patient died as the viral outbreak continued to spread at the Lady Small Haven nursing home and hostel, which had been quarantined since the previous Saturday.

The number of affected Lady Small Haven residents grew to 45 — 29 in the nursing home and 16 at the hostel — although more than half were no longer showing symptoms.

A Churches of Christ Care statement said three residents were still in hospital as a precautionary measure.

There were also 25 staff affected by the viral gastroenteritis, which tests confirmed was caused by norovirus, but the first to fall ill had recovered.

Aged care director Jeanette Evans said although there had been a small number of new cases in the past day, the spread of the virus was slowing.

“We are hopeful we are nearing the end of the outbreak,’’ she said.

The lockdown at the facilities would continue until at least 48 hours after all residents’ symptoms have ceased.

Meantime, a Tweed aged care facility restricted access to members of the public after some residents began to show symptoms of gastroenteritis earlier that week.

The Raffles Assisted Aged Care facility, located behind a gated community at Tweed Heads South, had restricted public access to its buildings since Tuesday.