❓ Mr. Krsticevic asks about lockdown plans for aged-care facilities in the event of sustained COVID-19 community transmission and communication with relevant stakeholders. The Deputy Premier responds, outlining existing pandemic plans, hygiene measures, and collaboration with health authorities and the not-for-profit sector.
AnsweredQoN 144Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
PANDEMIC PLAN — AGED-CARE FACILITIES
144. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Deputy Premier:
I note the number of COVID-19 cases
is starting to accelerate. In the event that sustained community transmission
triggers the pandemic plan —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Around the
whole world, as a matter of fact, as members well know.
The SPEAKER : I do not think
the question is being asked to 12 people on this side. It is only asked to one person.
It is a serious issue. Just listen. Start again.
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Thank you.
I note the number of COVID-19 cases is starting to accelerate. In the event
that sustained community transmission triggers the pandemic plan —
(1) Under those
circumstances, will all aged-care facilities go into lockdown?
(2) What has been
communicated to the not-for-profit sector, families, staff and residents given
this may occur at relatively short notice?
PANDEMIC PLAN — AGED-CARE FACILITIES
144. Mr A. KRSTICEVIC to the Deputy Premier:
I note the number of COVID-19 cases
is starting to accelerate. In the event that sustained community transmission
triggers the pandemic plan —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Members!
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Around the
whole world, as a matter of fact, as members well know.
The SPEAKER : I do not think
the question is being asked to 12 people on this side. It is only asked to one person.
It is a serious issue. Just listen. Start again.
Mr A. KRSTICEVIC : Thank you.
I note the number of COVID-19 cases is starting to accelerate. In the event
that sustained community transmission triggers the pandemic plan —
(1) Under those
circumstances, will all aged-care facilities go into lockdown?
(2) What has been
communicated to the not-for-profit sector, families, staff and residents given
this may occur at relatively short notice?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
member is correct; the COVID-19 virus is galloping across our globe. We have
nine cases confirmed in Western Australia
and no reported communication of that disease within our own community, so we
are in a very good position. We are
already in our pandemic plan. We know that the World Health Organization declared the global pandemic yesterday, last night, but essentially, throughout
Australia, all governments have been pretty
much at pandemic status pretty much since Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister,
announced as much some time ago. I think amongst the Chief Health
Officers there has been a certain amount of scratching of the head about why it
has taken the World Health Organization so long to respond.
The pandemic plan anticipates that at
some point we are going to have to undertake a certain amount of either
isolation or social distancing. Those decisions will be taken as the Chief
Health Officer advises us as we go through. The member is right to point out
that people in residential aged-care facilities are a particularly vulnerable
cohort. This was a point that the member for Mount Lawley, who is now trying to
do his best to behave himself, made earlier today in a grievance. We will not
automatically shut down residential aged-care facilities, but in discussions
with them, we have talked to them about making sure that they have hygiene
controls in place; that they are prepared to exclude relatives who present to
the aged-care facility with flu-like
symptoms and look unwell; and certainly to educate the relatives and people who are visiting aged-care residents, to make sure they understand their
personal responsibilities. It may be that we have to close down certain
facilities, as in isolate them, but it is more likely that what we will do is remove people from aged-care facilities once
they have started to exhibit symptoms, isolate them and then reintroduce
them if they prove negative. But these things will all be undertaken with the
advice of the Chief Health Officer. The Australian Health Protection Principal
Committee is currently drawing up national guidelines for cancelling events and
things of that nature, so we will wait to be informed by that.
Members, we are very wise to
appreciate that the COVID-19 virus represents a significant threat to our
community. There is no aspect of our lives that will not be impacted by this,
which is the reason the Premier appointed me as lead minister in our pandemic
response, and I have been working with all the agencies to make sure that they
are communicating with their sectors. The Department of Communities will be
working with its not-for-profit partners to make sure that they have plans in
hand. One of the issues around residential aged-care facilities is workforce.
That is going to be a big body of work that we do, and I think the Premier will
be engaging with his colleagues on that very issue as he meets with the Prime
Minister and others over the coming days.
member is correct; the COVID-19 virus is galloping across our globe. We have
nine cases confirmed in Western Australia
and no reported communication of that disease within our own community, so we
are in a very good position. We are
already in our pandemic plan. We know that the World Health Organization declared the global pandemic yesterday, last night, but essentially, throughout
Australia, all governments have been pretty
much at pandemic status pretty much since Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister,
announced as much some time ago. I think amongst the Chief Health
Officers there has been a certain amount of scratching of the head about why it
has taken the World Health Organization so long to respond.
The pandemic plan anticipates that at
some point we are going to have to undertake a certain amount of either
isolation or social distancing. Those decisions will be taken as the Chief
Health Officer advises us as we go through. The member is right to point out
that people in residential aged-care facilities are a particularly vulnerable
cohort. This was a point that the member for Mount Lawley, who is now trying to
do his best to behave himself, made earlier today in a grievance. We will not
automatically shut down residential aged-care facilities, but in discussions
with them, we have talked to them about making sure that they have hygiene
controls in place; that they are prepared to exclude relatives who present to
the aged-care facility with flu-like
symptoms and look unwell; and certainly to educate the relatives and people who are visiting aged-care residents, to make sure they understand their
personal responsibilities. It may be that we have to close down certain
facilities, as in isolate them, but it is more likely that what we will do is remove people from aged-care facilities once
they have started to exhibit symptoms, isolate them and then reintroduce
them if they prove negative. But these things will all be undertaken with the
advice of the Chief Health Officer. The Australian Health Protection Principal
Committee is currently drawing up national guidelines for cancelling events and
things of that nature, so we will wait to be informed by that.
Members, we are very wise to
appreciate that the COVID-19 virus represents a significant threat to our
community. There is no aspect of our lives that will not be impacted by this,
which is the reason the Premier appointed me as lead minister in our pandemic
response, and I have been working with all the agencies to make sure that they
are communicating with their sectors. The Department of Communities will be
working with its not-for-profit partners to make sure that they have plans in
hand. One of the issues around residential aged-care facilities is workforce.
That is going to be a big body of work that we do, and I think the Premier will
be engaging with his colleagues on that very issue as he meets with the Prime
Minister and others over the coming days.
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