'Mortified': Care home's coronavirus cluster sparked by worker with 'scratchy throat'
An aged care worker is mortified after finding out 10 people contracted coronavirus at a nursing home in Sydney’s west after they worked for six days straight with a “scratchy” throat.
NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant told reporters on Wednesday four residents and six staff at Anglicare’s Newmarch House at Caddens were now sick with COVID-19 after the unidentified worker battled on with mild symptoms for six days.
“I have spoken to the director of the public health unit and this person is absolutely mortified,” Dr Chant said.
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“So, I think I would urge people to remember that the symptoms of COVID can be incredibly mild and the key point is do not go to work.
“It doesn't matter how mild those symptoms are – runny nose, sore throat, just a scratchy throat in this case. Please don't go to work.”
Dr Chant added the worker in question is “incredibly distraught”.
‘Do not come to work’
Anglicare CEO Grant Millard told the ABC the staff member in question, who is permanent on a part-time basis, “did not display any symptoms”.
Mr Millard said “nothing was disclosed” in terms of the worker’s symptoms when they last showed for work on April 6.
“The questions that we asked people to answer are very, very clear. Do you have any cold or flu-like symptoms?” he told the ABC.
“If you do, do not come to work. We will still pay you to stay off. Get yourself checked out and recover.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard told reporters on Monday the aged care worker thought she was “doing the right thing”.
He urged anyone feeling sick and working at an aged care facility needed to stay home.
“The potential is disastrous consequences if you're working with some of our most vulnerable people,” he said.
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