St Basil's Homes for the Aged in Fawkner, in Melbourne's north, saw the COVID-19 cases quadruple on Tuesday, rising from 13 on Monday to 51 the next day, which prompted the intervention by the health authorities.
Highlights
- St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Melbourne is being temporarily managed with the help of the Federal Health Department since Wednesday
- All staff have been instructed to temporarily vacate their roles and self-isolate, in a bid to contain an escalating coronavirus outbreak
- St Basil’s board Chairman has expressed concerns over a lack of bilingual carers among the replacement workers caring for predominantly Greek-speaking residents
As of Wednesday, the outbreak accounted for 69 positive cases of COVID-19, including 47 residents at the not-for-profit aged care facility.
ImageManagement ‘devastated’ but say their hands are tied
“Seven [of our residents] are currently hospitalised […] but not in intensive care,” Chairman of the Board at St Basil’s Home for the Aged, Kon Kontis, told SBS Greek.
“The other 40 who tested positive remain in the nursing homes but in a separate wing. The facilities are large, equipped with 150 beds so we have the capacity to keep them in completely separate spaces.”
Mr Kontis says the outbreak started from four staff working in different departments of the organisation, who had been identified as close contacts of COVID-19 patients in their family circles.
But the situation quickly got out of control, he says.
“Looking at how the situation is now, I’m devastated. But sadly it happened and there’s nothing to do to change this.”
According to a statement by the Aged Care and Senior Australians minister, Senator Richard Colbeck, the management remains in control of the centre, albeit with support of the Federal Health Department.
St Basil’s entire staff, including those 18 employees who have tested positive to the virus, were ordered to self-isolate, with residents being cared for by a temporary replacement workers.
Mr Kontis says the process of the health authorities moving in to assist the management has been smooth despite an initial disagreement about how long the temporary arrangement would last.
“This is something for which we fought hard. [Health authorities] wanted us to vacate and not return until the coronavirus situation got an absolute ‘all clear’. We didn’t accept this,” he says.
St Basil's then approached the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, Janet Anderson.
“She presided over a phone meeting we had and convinced the local officials that this was not feasible, [Ms Anderson said] we would undergo the quarantine period and then we can resume the management.”
The self-isolation period for St Basil’s staff started on15 July. Since then, Mr Kontis says, PPE is being used at the facility to eliminate the risk of transmission.
‘Sadly there is no Greek-speaking staff’
Mr Kontis says he is "fairly satisfied" with the operations but rues a lack of bilingual carers among the replacement workers managing the residents currently.
“Having spoken with health workers on the ground, so far, we haven’t had any reports of complaints, it seems like things are done in the way they should be.
“But crucially, the one thing we’re missing out is that there is no Greek-speaking staff; the faces of [carers] familiar to the residents are not there,” he said.
At Fawkner’s St Basil’s Home for the Aged, the overwhelming majority of residents are of Greek background.
Meanwhile, the toll of the unfolding situation on residents and their loved ones is even greater, says Mr Kontis, due to restricted visitations over the last couple of months, in line with precautionary COVID-19 measures.
But he says regular communication channels remain a priority during the intervention, as before.
Following a one-on-one discussion with Minister Mr Colbeck, he cites a personal commitment by the Minister to have a dedicated call centre for the purpose established by Saturday.
The communications team will be tasked with providing information to family members for each individual resident.
“I’ve been told four people with clinical experience will be appointed to keep an eye on the situation, get informed on every individual resident and feed this back to family members through the call centre, which is going to based outside St Basil’s for security reasons.”
“For the rest, there’s not much we can do really until staff can return and residents can have the carers they know, as at the moment nobody is allowed to go in or outside the building,” Mr Kontis stated.
Press play on the main photo to listen to the interview in Greek.
Residents in metropolitan Melbourne are subject to stay-at-home orders and can only leave home for food and essential supplies, 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.
News and information is available in 63 languages at
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.
News and information is available in 63 languages at
