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Australia's virus death toll hits 70 after nursing home patient dies

A resident of a nursing home where a staff member worked for six days while infectious with COVID-19 has reportedly passed away, bringing the nation’s death toll to 70.

The resident of Anglicare's Newmarch House in Caddens, Penrith, west of Sydney, died on Saturday morning, according to ABC News.

A total of 30 people connected to the facility have now contracted COVID-19, with at least 20 of those having been in contact with the female employee who worked while having a sore throat.

Three other cases connected to the home were acquired overseas, Dr Chant said.

The Anglicares Newmarch House in Western Sydney where 30 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed and one resident has died. Source: AAP
The Anglicares Newmarch House in Western Sydney where 30 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed and one resident has died. Source: AAP

It comes as a sixth Queenslander died overnight after contracting the virus on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise, Health Minister Steven Miles said on Saturday.

There were eight new COVID-19 cases diagnosed in the state overnight, bringing the total number of people infected since the crisis began to 1014. Of those, 738 people have recovered.

A man in his 80s died in hospital in Victoria, taking the state's toll to 15. Nine new cases have also been confirmed after 17 new cases were reported on Saturday.

Seven of the new cases are Greg Mortimer cruise ship passengers flown in recently on a flight from Uruguay.

Strict isolation protocols were implemented at Anglicare's Newmarch House nursing home after it was revealed the woman worked while infectious, but cases were expected to increase.

Dr Chant reiterated aged care workers needed to take particular care because COVID-19 was extremely infectious in institutional settings such as nursing homes.

A female employee worked for six days at this facility while infectious with COVID-19. Source: AAP
A female employee worked for six days at this facility while infectious with COVID-19. Source: AAP

Aged care workers with any respiratory symptoms should seek COVID-19 testing.

"We see this amplification in institutions and that explains the very strong messages we're giving," Dr Chant said on Friday.

"Anyone in an institution who has lots of contact with lots of people poses significant risks if anyone is unwell and transmitting. It's not unexpected."

Most cases at Newmarch House, which has 96 residents, remain mild and Anglicare says they are being cared for by a specially trained team.

As a precaution, residents who tested negative are being re-tested, Anglicare said in a statement on Friday.

with AAP

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