Wednesday, 18 March 2020

Ministers statements: COVID-19

Mr DONNELLAN (Narre Warren North—Minister for Child Protection, Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers) (11:21): I rise to update the house on the additional protections for aged-care residential services agreed by national cabinet last night and announced today. As we know, the commonwealth are the regulators of aged care, but it has been agreed with all states and territories to bring in stricter controls, especially for visitors and staff. For a start, there are restrictions on staff or visitors returning from overseas and those who have had contact with a confirmed case or who have symptoms themselves; they are not permitted to enter. But for visitors separate from those providing essential services, residents will be limited to two people per day, staying for a short duration only, for the purpose of care and support. Visitors cannot be in a communal area, there are to be no group visits or activities and social distancing is encouraged. And there will be enhanced screening and hygiene measures put in place for everyone who enters, too. Social distancing of 1.5 metres is recommended.

It is clearly an extremely challenging time for elderly Victorians to have limits placed on social contact, and that is distressing. Some extra allowances have been made for palliative care, and facilities must make video and phone calls available. But we need to do all we can, as we know the elderly are much more susceptible to the virus.

Here in Victoria we are also taking additional steps. The Department of Health and Human Services has been in regular contact with state and non-government providers to support their preparedness. Based on the new national guidelines, DHHS will now update our own state plan. We are also developing additional resources: checklists, decision-making trees, key contacts, frequently asked questions, webinars and service maps. Our health services are working closely with our public sector residential aged-care providers, giving expert infection control advice, and our hospitals are ready to provide specialist support. But while we are well prepared, the risk remains real that we will see a confirmed case in aged care soon; it is likely. Some providers are already taking enhanced action in locking down their facilities further, to exercise extreme caution.