Covid deaths in aged care reach almost 100 a week as active cases surge across Australia

Almost 100 aged care residents are dying from Covid each week with active cases linked to the more than 700 current outbreaks in facilities reaching near-record levels for 2022, data shows.

An analysis of government data on Covid in aged care shows a worrying surge in the weekly number of deaths, number of active outbreaks, and cases among residents.

The industry fears that two-thirds of aged care homes across Australia may be grappling with outbreaks in the next six weeks.

It comes as the federal health minister, Mark Butler, warned millions of Australians faced infection with the virus in coming weeks.

The last available data showed 91 deaths were reported by aged care providers in the week ending 8 July, up from 58 the week prior, and well above the weekly average of 69 since the beginning of March, when the last Omicron wave ended.

More than 2,000 aged care residents have now died this year alone, dwarfing the death tolls of 686 and 231 from 2020 and 2021 respectively.

A further 110 active outbreaks were reported by providers in the last week on record, up from 627 to 737. The number of cases associated with those outbreaks is now 8,633, the worst on record since mid-February, the peak of the summer wave.

Yates called for an increased effort to administer fourth vaccine doses to aged care residents, but said the government was otherwise doing everything possible in the aged care system itself.

He said the unions and providers were also predicting a significant loss in staffing.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) said its members, including aged care workers, were exhausted and stressed.

The federal secretary, Annie Butler, called on the community to wear masks, stay home while sick, and ensure their vaccinations were up-to-date to help relieve pressure on aged care services.