Authorities are bracing for more coronavirus deaths in Victorian aged care residences as the state on Monday recorded 532 more COVID-19 cases and six more deaths.
Premier Daniel Andrews said five-of-the-six deaths are connected to outbreaks in aged care and included women in their 70s, 80s and 90s and men in their 50s, 70s and 80s.
The bulk of the 161 deaths in Australia have been people aged over 70, including 67 residents in aged care services.
On Sunday, Victoria reported its deadliest day of the pandemic, with seven of its 10 deaths linked to outbreaks at aged care facilities.
There are now 84 cases linked to St Basil's Home for the Aged in Fawkner, 82 at Estia Health in Ardeer, 77 at Epping Gardens Aged Care, 62 at Menarock Aged Care in Essendon.
Glendale Aged Care in Werribee has 53 cases linked to it and 57 are associated with Kirkbrae Presbyterian Homes in Kilsyth.
Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said outbreaks at aged care facilities were disturbing.
"These are very challenging numbers. We're at a very challenging stage with this wave," he told reporters on Monday.
"Aged care is the biggest risk for us with the current COVID outbreak," federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck told Seven's Sunrise on Monday.
"It is very much a victim of the community transmission that is going through Victoria at the moment, he said.
"There are a number of facilities we are extremely concerned about."
The federal and Victorian governments on the weekend set up a response centre, which starts work from Monday, to co-ordinate efforts to curb the virus spread.
Minister for Aged Care Richard Colbeck. Source: AAP
St Basil's has been taken over by the federal government to bring the deadly situation under control, including a call centre for families to get information on their loved ones.
It comes after one man, Nicholas Barboussas, was told by St Basil's at the weekend his father was in the home and doing well, after he had been told by Northern Hospital hours earlier his father was fighting for life.
Mr Barboussas said the family managed to FaceTime with the ill grandfather before he passed away on Sunday, after Victoria's official case and toll figures were announced.
"Someone from that area the communication team contacted me on Friday and said there would be a daily call and that daily call would have information on my dad. I was told my dad was in his room, comfortable and away from the outbreak," he told SBS News.
"Flash forward to 2pm the next day I received a call from the same lady saying my Dad's condition hadn't changed and I intimated he was in his room and ok. So I was flabbergasted when to put it mildly, I heard that, because I had already had a call from the North Melbourne hospital six hours earlier to say he was fighting for his life," he said.
Aged and Community Services Association chief executive Patricia Sparrow said new guidelines preventing staff from working across multiple homes was being rolled out to reduce the spread.
St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Victoria. Source: AAP
"It is anything up to about 30 per cent of the workforce that work in multiple facilities," she told Seven.
"It is taking a little while, but the intent is to completely reduce that spread based on principles introduced last week."
A United Workers Union survey of 1000 aged care staff released on Monday found workers often had not received additional coronavirus safety training or that their aged care facility did not communicate their infection plan well.
It also found workers have been struggling with staff shortages and increased workloads since the outbreak, with structural issues rife, including 90 per cent of workers worried their colleagues may have to work if they have mild symptoms because of a lack of sick leave.
On Sunday, Victoria reported another 459 new infections and 10 deaths.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Nick Coatsworth said although the Victorian numbers are deeply concerning, there are some hopeful signs as the numbers remain consistent.
"Those numbers are not doubling on a week by week basis, we have reached a relatively steady state for the moment of numbers between about 350 and 450 per day," Mr Coatsworth said.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for essential work, study, exercise or care responsibilities. People are also advised to wear masks in public.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
