Covid cases are on the rise in residential aged care amid warnings of new waves of infection.

According to the latest government figures, as of 6 April, there were 1513 active cases of Covid-19 across 236 aged care homes around Australia – 1078 among residents, 435 among staff.

The latest data confirms an upward trend in outbreaks in aged care homes with an increase in cases recorded week on week over the past six weeks.

There were around 900 Covid cases recorded in aged care homes in the first couple of weeks of March. This grew to 1300 cases during the remainder of the month before landing at just over 1500 cases during the first week of April – an increase over the period of more than 65 per cent.

The rise follows a warning from Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler that the pandemic “was not over” and “future waves of Covid” would likely occur across the course of the year.

In response, the government has expanded measures to protect vulnerable populations.

From the 1 April, Australians aged 60 to 69 with only one risk factor – rather than two – have been granted free access to the antiviral treatment Paxlovid.

Also from 1 April, new aged care worker Covid leave payment grants of $750 have been made available to support staff caring for those most at risk of severe illness.

The grants reimburse providers for leave paid to directly permanent or casual aged care workers and cover employees who cannot work due to Covid-19 and have no other leave entitlements.

The extra measures follow a revised Covid management plan released in December 2022.

When asked earlier this month whether Australia would see a continued rise in Covid cases as the year progresses, national chief medical officer Paul Kelly said it was hard to call.

“I don’t have a crystal ball,” he said. Describing the current situation as a “ripple”, Mr Kelly added: “Whether that will turn into a wave, it’s difficult to predict at this stage.”

Since the pandemic began in early 2020, there have been 13,615 Covid cases across 2,812 aged care facilities resulting in the deaths of more than 5,000 residents.

This article was originally published by Australian Ageing Agenda. 

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