TWO of the Hunter's new COVID-19 cases worked in aged care facilities while infectious.
NSW Health and the Commonwealth Government have been "working to support" staff and residents at Masonic Village at Edgeworth and Hammond Care at Waratah after two workers tested positive to COVID-19.
No further cases in staff or residents have been confirmed at this time.
In a statement, HammondCare said it "deeply regrets" that a staff member at its Waratah aged care home had tested positive for COVID-19.
Chief executive Mike Baird said their first priority was ensuring appropriate care for residents who may have been exposed to the staff member, including daily testing.
He said measures were in place to stop the spread of infection to other parts of the home and ensuring all other residents were appropriately isolated.
"The staff member worked in two cottages while infectious," he said.
"Of the 17 residents in those two cottages, three are not fully vaccinated. All have tested negative to COVID-19 in tests conducted to date.
"Staff at Waratah who have been deemed close contacts of the care worker have been stood down to isolate at home for 14 days.
"All other staff are being subject to daily swabbing."
Mr Baird said HammondCare was working closely with NSW Health, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commisssion and Commonwealth authorities in its response to the incident.
"We are deeply concerned that residents have been impacted in this way," Mr Baird said.
"We are undergoing extensive testing of all residents in the affected cottages and staff. We will also be testing all other residents at Waratah out of an abundance of caution."
Family members of the 17 residents in the two cottages were informed yesterday.
Mr Baird said the two cottages at Waratah are in full lockdown. Residents elsewhere at Waratah may have restricted visits from those who have undertaken HammondCare's Partnering in Care program.
Arrangements for regular contact between residents and their loved ones are in place utilising phone, mail, email and video calling.
"While we are doing all we can for the residents, our thoughts are also with the staff member who is passionate about resident care and distressed about what has taken place," Mr Baird said
There were 13 new COVID-19 cases announced in the Hunter.
Ten are in the Newcastle area, and three are in Lake Macquarie.
Ten are linked to previously reported cases, while the source of three cases is still under investigation.
Anyone who attended the following venues on the specified dates and times are considered "close contacts" and must get tested, isolate for 14 days, and await further advice from NSW Health:
Subway, Warners Bay (The Esplanade) on:
o Tuesday 3 August from 11am - 5pm
o Wednesday 4 August from 11.30am - 5pm
o Thursday 5 August from 11am - 6pm
Wests, New Lambton on Wednesday 4 August from 7.50pm - 10pm
o Lower Alfresco Gaming Area
o Main Bar
o Hopsmith Bar Smoking Area
Air Locker Training, Kotara on:
o Monday 2 August from 8.15am - 9.15am
o Tuesday 3 August from 6.15am - 7.15am
Bus 269 (Teralba to Warners Bay) on Tuesday 3 August and Thursday 5 August from 10.45am - 11am (both days)
Anyone who attended the following venues on the specified dates and times are casual contacts (unless they have been contacted by NSW Health as close contacts) and must get tested and isolate until a negative test result is received:
Big W, Charlestown Square on Wednesday 4 August from 9.16am - 10am
Coles, Warners Bay Village Shopping Centre on Tuesday 3 August from 10.45am -
10.47am
Aldi, Newcastle West (Union Street) on Tuesday 3 August from 9.25am - 9.30am
Newcastle Basketball Stadium, Broadmeadow on Tuesday 3 August from 8.30pm -
9.30pm
McDonald's, Charlestown Square on Thursday 29 July from 5.05pm - 5.45pm
Coles, Medowie on Wednesday 4 August from 6.15pm - 6.45pm
More to come.
