SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) – In a bid to focus on the country’s coronavirus crisis, Prime Minister Scott Morrison cut short an inter-state tour on Tuesday. He cited a “very complex” outbreak of the infection in aged care homes in Melbourne.
The country’s second most populous state of Victoria recorded as many as 384 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday, which is down from 532 cases reported on Monday.
“The situation in Victoria aged care is very complex, you have a combination of the community transmission which is widespread in Melbourne finding its way into many facilities, and in particular it has found its way into the aged care workforce,” the prime minister said in Queensland, adding that he was cutting short his tour to return to Canberra.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said as many as 769 active cases have been linked to aged care centres. Nine fatalities were reported in the state since Monday.
“I cannot stand here and tell you I have confidence that staff and management across a number of private sector aged care facilities are able to provide the care that is appropriate to keep their residents safe,” Andrews said in a briefing in Melbourne.
On Monday, a national tribunal ruled that aged care homes, including nurses, would be given paid pandemic leave.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field