22 Mar 2020

Rest home worker tests positive for Covid-19

3:38 pm on 22 March 2020

All residents at an Auckland rest home in contact with a Covid-19-positive staff member have been isolated as a precaution.

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Photo: 123rf.com

Heritage Lifecare Group said the person at Ellerslie Gardens Lifecare facility worked two night shifts, the week after returning from overseas travel on 10 March. They had no symptoms at the time.

They then had a one-day break and saw a doctor after developing a headache.

Tests for Covid-19 came back positive yesterday and the person is recovering at home.

Staff who had close contact with the individual have also been isolated and will be tested.

Heritage Lifecare Group said in a statement it would follow advice from health officials as to whether residents required testing.

Its chief executive Norah Barlow said: "We have advised our residents and their families of the situation.

"We have followed all the advice from the Ministry of Health and have isolated all residents who had contact with the staff member as a precaution. This is obviously a concerning time for the residents and our team and we are providing them with appropriate support.

"As part of our overall response to Covid-19, all our staff at Ellerslie are taking additional infection control precautions which includes wearing face masks during shifts."

Many aged care providers across the country have restricted access to their residents and have formed an industry task force to deal with the challenges posed by Covid-19.

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