Workers at the Newmarch House aged care home are to be tested daily, after a 14th resident died after contracting the virus on Saturday.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said there was "sadly another death" at the Newmarch House in western Sydney, as four more aged care home staff members tested positive to COVID-19 over the weekend.
Seventy-six-year-old resident Anne Faye died in hospital after contracting the virus. She had previously tested negative twice.
The outbreak at the Anglicare-run Kingswood nursing home is one of the deadliest clusters in NSW with 63 infections in the home - including 37 residents and 26 staff.
NSW Health is now conducting an infectious disease control review of the facility looking at possible infection control breaches.
Mr Hazzard defended the government's handling of the outbreak and said he had expressed his disappointment to Anglicare management.
"I made my views very clear to Anglicare. That's all I'll say," he said.
He defended the staff who had spread infection, saying dealing with the virus was "like almost going to the moon".
Alternative accommodation
Elizabeth Lane, whose mother 84-year-old mother Rose Davies has severe dementia and is a palliative care resident at Newmarch House, said she wants to move her mother out of the home but has no idea where to start.
"We're still in the same God-awful situation. If I knew where to even being with moving Mum out I would in a heartbeat. I'm now about to being the soul-destroying process of ringing around trying to get more informed," she told The Senior on Monday.
Anglicare said alternative accommodation options for people who are COVID-19 negative are being discussed with some residents and their families "and of course this is possible, provided there is a good understanding of the risks and precautionary measures that that this would involve - for the resident and their families."
"This is a very sad time for the family and a distressing and challenging time for residents and staff as we deal with the impact of this dreadful virus," Anglicare Sydney said in a statement on Sunday.
Following Mrs Faye's death Anglicare has announced a support program to help families of residents at Newmarch House.
This will include family members of COVID-19 positive residents recieving a daily phone update from a registered nurse on their loved one's care and condition. Anglicare said the designated contact of all other families will also receive "regular calls and individual updates".
Anglicare also said window visits will continue where feasible with window access, enabled by a booking system to allow families to schedule a visit at a time convenient to them.
Ms Lane was given a visit with her mother on Friday afternoon, but described the 30-minute meeting - where they were separated by two metres and metal fencing and wearing face masks - akin to a prison visit.
But for Ms Lane, she won't be taking the risk of visiting her mother in person again. "Window visits are possible for some residents only and the face-to-face visit they arranged put mum more at risk of exposure so I won't be going again," she said.
NSW Labor oppostion leader Jodi McKay said the NSW Government has been "too slow" in dealing with the Newmarch House crisis and backed calls to move residents out.
"Using NSW public health powers, they should be moving residents out - instead of moving them around and bringing more workers in," she said on Facebook.
"We first called for staff testing at Newmarch House back on April 17 - now there are 63 cases and 14 tragic deaths.
"It is simply devastating. My deepest condolences to the family of Ann Fahey and all affected by this tragedy. We must now act to avoid an even bigger one."
'Communicating effectively'
'Anglicare Sydney CEO Grant Millard said the primary focus "has been and continues to be the care and wellbeing of our residents".
"At the same time, this situation is changing daily and we recognise we need to do more to ensure we are communicating effectively with families who are understandably distressed."
Last week family member, Louise Payne, wrote to Mr Millard on behalf of 94 people who are families and friends of Newmarch House residents detailing 10 concerns.
She said Mr Millard has personally responded to all of the concerns. "On behalf of families and friends of Newmarch, I want to thank and acknowledge Mr Millard and his team for listening to our concerns and seeking our input.
"While we remain concerned about our loved ones and express our condolences to those who have lost loved ones, we know the Newmarch staff are doing their absolute best."
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Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
