MASS TESTING AT HIGHTON AGED-CARE HOME:

MASS testing has been undertaken to identify whether coronavirus has spread at a Highton aged-care centre after a worker tested positive.

Opal Aged Care on Tuesday confirmed on-site workers at Opal South Valley were only employed at that care home and did not work across multiple facilities.

The centre 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.

An Opal Aged Care spokeswoman said all staff and residents were being tested on Tuesday.

“We have a well-prepared COVID-19 plan in place and the plan was activated immediately when we were notified of the positive result of the team member,” she said.

“We are staying in close contact with families to keep them updated as information comes to hand.

“Our Opal team on-site only work at this care home.

“We continue to work closely with the Public Health Unit to protect the wellbeing and safety of all of our residents and team.”

The case is the first known coronavirus case in an agedcare home in Geelong as infections connected to the sector explode in Melbourne.

Opal Aged Care did not address a question about whether the worker who tested positive was from Melbourne.

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said the health service was providing support to Opal South Valley and visited the aged-care centre on Tuesday. “All staff and residents will be tested as a priority,” Ms Bibby said.

“Barwon Health has been working with aged-care providers since earlier in the year to support their COVID-19 preparations and we have been providing on-site testing to any residents who have symptoms and require testing.”

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said state and federal governments were working with the aged-care sector to reduce transmission of coronavirus.

“There are plans in place with the sector and unions to consolidate shifts at single sites and reduce the number of work locations for staff,” the spokesman said.

Aged-care workers required to isolate because of coronavirus symptoms or because they are a close contact of a confirmed case will be entitled to two weeks’ paid leave, following a ruling by the workplace umpire.

A decision from the Fair Work Commission will mean aged-care staff employed under three awards — the Aged Care Award, the Nurses Award and the Health Professionals Award — will be given access to the leave from Wednesday for an initial threemonth period.

The ruling comes after the FWC’s April decision to grant paid pandemic leave to other employees working under 99 different awards.

Last week, the state government announced a $300 payment would be available to those who needed to isolate to wait for a COVID-19 test result.

A $1500 payment is also available to those who test positive and need to isolate for a fortnight.