Scale of aged care Covid deaths laid bare as staff prepare to strike

Aged care providers have reported more than 350 Covid deaths since the election campaign began and continue to grapple with at least 60 deaths a week, government data shows.

An analysis of government data, conducted by the United Workers Union and confirmed by the Guardian, shows that Covid deaths in aged care facilities are now occurring at rates unseen in the first two years of the pandemic.

Aged care workers are preparing to strike across the country again on Friday, furious at low pay, torrid conditions, and a lack of recognition of the huge workload and workforce pressures caused by Covid.

The latest government report shows 1,418 Covid deaths have been reported by aged care providers so far in 2022, accounting for about one in four of all Covid deaths in Australia. That dwarfs the 686 deaths in aged care in 2020 and 231 deaths in 2021.

In the last three weeks on record, there were 65, 89, and 85 deaths reported by aged care facilities respectively.

The average deaths a week this year has hovered at about 75.

There were 761 active outbreaks in aged care facilities in the week up to 13 May, including 205 in New South Wales, 191 in Victoria, 120 in South Australia, 100 in Queensland, and 103 in Western Australia.

More than 3,300 aged care residents and 1,999 staff were Covid positive in those 761 outbreaks.

Smith said the pandemic continued to be distressing for aged care residents who were locked up in their rooms, and devastating for families and workers, who were shouldering huge workloads.

Aged care workers are expected to strike on Friday in SA and Queensland as they fight for better wages and conditions. The sector has also pleaded with the government to fund a pay rise and to improve funding for Covid prevention.

A spokesperson for the aged care minister, Richard Colbeck, said the government continued to ensure older Australians have access to Covid and flu vaccines in the current comprehensive rollout.

The spokesperson said Australia had fared far better than other nations in its handling of aged care deaths.