❓ The Minister for Seniors and Ageing outlines measures taken to protect aged-care residents in WA from COVID-19, including visitor restrictions, vaccination requirements, and enforcement through public health acts. The Minister also commends a local business for supporting seniors.
AnsweredQoN 200Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORONAVIRUS —
AGED-CARE SECTOR
200. Mr M. HUGHES to the Minister for Seniors and Ageing:
I refer to the state government's
response to COVID-19 and its impact on the aged-care sector. Can the minister
update the house on the measures being taken to help protect residents in Western
Australia's aged-care facilities?
AGED-CARE SECTOR
200. Mr M. HUGHES to the Minister for Seniors and Ageing:
I refer to the state government's
response to COVID-19 and its impact on the aged-care sector. Can the minister
update the house on the measures being taken to help protect residents in Western
Australia's aged-care facilities?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Based on what we know about COVID-19, seniors form one of the groups most at
risk of serious infection, and we must take this very, very seriously.
Following the Prime Minister's advice, a number of restrictions have
been placed on visits to aged-care facilities. I can confirm that anyone who
has been overseas or in contact with a confirmed
case of COVID-19 within a fortnight will be banned from visiting aged-care centres and facilities. Anyone with a fever or symptoms such as respiratory
infection, cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath will also come
under the ban. After 1 May 2020, those who have not been vaccinated against
influenza will also be prohibited from entering any of those facilities.
Aged-care residents will be able to receive only one visit per day, with a maximum
of two people visiting. Children under 17 years are advised to visit only by
exception—sometimes there might be a moment in life that is the last
chance for people to say something to
someone; that would be the exception. Although I understand this can be
distressing to some, commonsense must prevail. Visits should also be
conducted in a resident's room, specifically designated area or
outdoors to reduce any risk of potential transmission, and people should
practice social distancing measures when possible. Measures such as phone and
video calls may be made accessible to residents in those facilities to enable
regular contact with family members and to prevent feelings of loneliness and
isolation.
We
will be using powers under the Public Health and Emergency Management Acts to
enforce these new rules to protect Western Australia seniors. As the
Premier said previously, penalties of up to $50 000 will apply. Some aged-care providers have also taken additional
precautions, with Regis Aged Care, for example, entering a lockdown and
prohibiting any visitors for the next two weeks in all its facilities. However,
allowance will be made in exceptional circumstances. I recommend visitors call
ahead to check whether any further restrictions are in place in such
facilities. Every Australian needs to be conscious of minimising the risk of
transmission of COVID-19 to older Australians, who we know are in the group
most at risk in this area. I urge community members to take some responsibility for the safety of seniors in their
lives by strictly self-isolating if required in accordance with directives from the Department of Health and by adhering to the restrictions I read out
earlier.
These
timely and sensible measures are important mechanisms to protect our most
vulnerable, and I thank everyone for their cooperation. As has been
said, when we go back to our communities today, we need to emphasise to people
that things are not normal and we have to take extreme measures to try to
control the problem we have.
In
finishing, I congratulate my local butcher, Spry's Meat Market, which
has taken steps in my community to make sure seniors are able to buy meat
without fear of missing out due to panic buying. I ask that similar businesses
do the same.
Based on what we know about COVID-19, seniors form one of the groups most at
risk of serious infection, and we must take this very, very seriously.
Following the Prime Minister's advice, a number of restrictions have
been placed on visits to aged-care facilities. I can confirm that anyone who
has been overseas or in contact with a confirmed
case of COVID-19 within a fortnight will be banned from visiting aged-care centres and facilities. Anyone with a fever or symptoms such as respiratory
infection, cough, sore throat, runny nose or shortness of breath will also come
under the ban. After 1 May 2020, those who have not been vaccinated against
influenza will also be prohibited from entering any of those facilities.
Aged-care residents will be able to receive only one visit per day, with a maximum
of two people visiting. Children under 17 years are advised to visit only by
exception—sometimes there might be a moment in life that is the last
chance for people to say something to
someone; that would be the exception. Although I understand this can be
distressing to some, commonsense must prevail. Visits should also be
conducted in a resident's room, specifically designated area or
outdoors to reduce any risk of potential transmission, and people should
practice social distancing measures when possible. Measures such as phone and
video calls may be made accessible to residents in those facilities to enable
regular contact with family members and to prevent feelings of loneliness and
isolation.
We
will be using powers under the Public Health and Emergency Management Acts to
enforce these new rules to protect Western Australia seniors. As the
Premier said previously, penalties of up to $50 000 will apply. Some aged-care providers have also taken additional
precautions, with Regis Aged Care, for example, entering a lockdown and
prohibiting any visitors for the next two weeks in all its facilities. However,
allowance will be made in exceptional circumstances. I recommend visitors call
ahead to check whether any further restrictions are in place in such
facilities. Every Australian needs to be conscious of minimising the risk of
transmission of COVID-19 to older Australians, who we know are in the group
most at risk in this area. I urge community members to take some responsibility for the safety of seniors in their
lives by strictly self-isolating if required in accordance with directives from the Department of Health and by adhering to the restrictions I read out
earlier.
These
timely and sensible measures are important mechanisms to protect our most
vulnerable, and I thank everyone for their cooperation. As has been
said, when we go back to our communities today, we need to emphasise to people
that things are not normal and we have to take extreme measures to try to
control the problem we have.
In
finishing, I congratulate my local butcher, Spry's Meat Market, which
has taken steps in my community to make sure seniors are able to buy meat
without fear of missing out due to panic buying. I ask that similar businesses
do the same.
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