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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Melissa Davey

‘Covid has spread like wildfire’: 703 aged care homes across Australia battle fresh outbreaks

In many aged care homes it is not possible to open windows in residents’ rooms.
In many nursing homes it is not possible to open windows in residents’ rooms, which is contributing to the airborne spread of Covid in some facilities, experts say. Photograph: Runstudio/Getty Images

More than 700 aged care homes across Australia reported fresh Covid outbreaks in the fortnight to 21 January, the majority in New South Wales, with a number of large homes going from zero to more than 100 cases over that period.

Public health researcher Dr Sarah Russell, who is director of Aged Care Matters, said some homes are managing to control the number of cases while others are seeing drastic spikes. In the fortnight from 7 January, 703 care homes recorded new outbreaks and 105 saw a surge in numbers.

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