New South Wales has had a drop in coronavirus cases but a series of health-order breaches – including by footy players – and a growing nursing home cluster show there is more work to be done to stop the spread.
On Monday, health authorities are expected to announce whether more residents or workers from SummitCare home in Baulkham Hills were infected with COVID-19.
Of key concern to families of the residents is the question of why only a third of the staff caring for the elderly had had a vaccination.
There is deep concern for those who live at the home west of Sydney, even though 96 per cent of them are fully vaccinated.
Three have already been infected after COVID-19 was brought into the home by staff: a man in his 90s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 80s.
All have had two doses of the vaccine and are said to be in good spirits, with no symptoms.
SummitCare’s chief operating officer Michelle Sloane said the home was “unlucky” to get the virus.
But families are furious about how few staff have had their shots.
“We assumed they were. I think it’s a disgrace,” Kathie Melocco, the daughter of one resident, told the ABC.
“If I had known, that would’ve meant I would’ve made other decisions around my parents. I’m just so angry.”
Two of the nursing home’s workers tested positive for COVID-19 during the week. One of them was not vaccinated and SummitCare was unclear about the vaccination status of the other.
At least 140 of the home’s 200 staff members are now in 14 days of self-isolation.
NSW is starting to see an overall downward trend in new cases.
The three aged-care home residents were among 16 local COVID-19 cases recorded in NSW in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday.
Three of those cases were out in the community during some or all of their infectious period. There have now been 277 local COVID-19 cases reported since June 16.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian has urged residents to respect stay-at-home orders if they want any hope of emerging from lockdown on Friday.
Police are enforcing the laws – but that hasn’t stopped even some high-profile Sydney residents flouting the laws.
On Sunday, it was revealed that police were investigating NRL players who allegedly had a party in Shellharbour on Saturday night.
St George Illawarra players are accused of breaking stay-at-home orders to attend a party at forward Paul Vaughan’s house.
The Dragons confirmed that some players were under investigation, with the number who attended the party believed to be between 10 and 15.
Any party would have been a clear breach of not only NSW law, but also the game’s bubble.
NSW Police fined 86 people for breaching health orders on Saturday.
Among those fined $1,000 for breaching public health orders were four people found travelling 150 kilometres from their Maroubra home.
“It really stresses me out when we hear examples of businesses not doing the right thing, of individuals not wearing masks when they need to,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Because when people don’t do the right thing — even if it’s a handful — it impacts the rest of us.
“We don’t want to see that jeopardise the good work we’ve been doing.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said public places such as pubs and restaurants had previously been the main sites of transmission, but now homes were the “most dangerous place”.
“Aussies tend to think of their home as their castle, but right now it can be COVID central,” Mr Hazzard said.
-with AAP
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