Dear Residents and Family Members,

RE: IMPORTANT UPDATE – Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community

We wish to inform residents and families that, one (1) additional resident and one (1) additional staff member have tested positive to COVID-19 at the Calvary Flora McDonald Retirement Community. The total number of confirmed active positive cases totals three (3) residents and three (3) members of staff.

Both the resident and the staff member are fully vaccinated and are located in the Joseph Tappeiner unit. The affected resident, their families and doctors have been contacted directly by Calvary and provided with updates on the current health and wellbeing of the resident.
 

One of the newly identified COVID positive residents was tested following close contact with a COVID positive family member outside of the home. The second resident was tested as part of the requirement for a medical procedure. This testing was separate to the testing regime in place for the outbreak.
 

Calvary care staff continue to closely monitor the health and wellbeing of all the residents in our care, and are in regular communication with all residents and families of the aged care home situated on the Calvary Flora McDonald.
 

We understand that residents have had to remain confined to their rooms for some time now and, while this is to ensure minimal risk of infection, we know that their isolation is difficult. We continue to maintain our Calvary WebEx Video Call Service to facilitate contact between residents and families.
 

We would like to assure residents and families that Calvary continues to work closely with our hospitals, Calvary Community Care, SA Health and the Commonwealth to ensure staffing requirements continue to be met in maintaining the safest possible environment for residents and staff at this time.
 

We will continue to contact the listed person responsible for each resident and email an update with any developments. You can help us to ease anxiety by please sharing this information with other family and friends.
 

As the situation evolves at Calvary Flora McDonald, please be assured that our dedicated staff are working hard to keep all residents safe from infection. Our staff are trained in strict infection prevention and control protocols and are providing care while wearing the appropriate PPE at all times.
 

Thank you for your continued patience at this challenging time. We are grateful that families are working with us so generously to ensure the safety of your loved ones in our care.

Sincerely,

Martin Bowles     National CEO  

Sharon Kendall   Regional CEO – SA/NT