IMPORTANT: COVID-19 UPDATE - at Calvary Cessnock

Date: 28 February  2022

To: All Staff – Calvary Cessnock

From:  Sandeep Kandel, General Manager Aged Care

I am writing to inform you that unfortunately two (2) residents have tested positive for COVID-19 in the Bimbadeen households at Calvary Cessnock. The two residents reside in the Windemere lodge and Calvary is in direct contact with their families.

All of the Bimbadeen households will be closed to visitors effective immediately and visits are suspended until Wednesday, 2 March. All of the residents within Windemere and adjoining Mt View are being cared for in their rooms.

Visits to residents of our Nulkaba households remains unchanged at this time.

What are we doing to keep resident’s safe?

The home’s updated COVID-19 Outbreak Management Plan (OMP) has been enacted and we have taken immediate action to contain transmission and keep residents and staff safe. We have:

• Physically separated the affected persons, including any close contacts;
• Ensured all residents are being safely cared for in their rooms, including meals and activities;
• Notified and are working with the State and Commonwealth agencies;
• Continue our COVID-19 testing regime of residents and staff;
• Supplied full outbreak personal protective equipment (PPE - gloves, masks, face shields, gowns) to required areas.

In addition to these first actions, our care continuity plan ensures we have the clinical and non-clinical staff, as well as other support services necessary to meet the individual care needs of our residents during situations such as this.

Information for Bimbadeen visitors during an outbreak

• Consistent with Calvary’s Position Statement on Visiting in Aged Care, one fully vaccinated visitor (Partner in Care), per resident, per day will be permitted entry from 11.00am, Wednesday, 2 March.
• All visitors will be supplied with the appropriate PPE (including face masks and shields as appropriate) to wear whilst visiting. Please assist visitors where needed.
• Visitors will be required to stop in at the main administration building to have a rapid antigen test (RAT) before entering any of the Bimbadeen homes.
• Visitation exceptions may be made for residents receiving end of life care, residents who may be experiencing distress, or where a special care and support role is provided.

We need you to continue to work 

You are safe to continue to provide resident care because you are trained and prepared for situations such as this. Your training means you will know how to provide resident care safely by following our strict infection prevention and control procedures, including the correct use of PPE.

For staff that work across multiple sites we would like you to continue to work at Calvary. To support you to do this Calvary will commit to giving you equivalent shifts to ensure that your hours from both Calvary and the alternate employer are maintained at a minimum.

What do I need to remember?

Our first priority and focus is the safety, health and wellbeing of the people in our care, including you, our employees, at this time. You will be kept informed by your Manager as the situation develops.

• Notify your Manager immediately if you have been notified that you are a close contact of a positive case, are showing symptoms of COVID-19, or are in any way unwell.
• Wear PPE as advised. If you have any questions, please speak with your Manager.
• Follow the COVID-19 media protocol. If you are contacted by a journalist, do not answer questions. Simply record the journalist’s name, media agency and contact details and notify the Manager.
•  If you are experiencing any form of distress or anxiety, please speak to your Manager. If you find you require additional support, please reach out to our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP).

Thank you for all that you are doing to ensure our residents continue to receive the safest possible care with empathy and compassion in this challenging time.