Melbourne aged care facility blasted after 'shocking' party footage emerges
Video has emerged of staff dancing and appearing to mingle with residents during an event at a nursing home in Melbourne’s east.
The TikTok footage was taken at AdventCare Whitehorse in Nunawading on September 16 and shows staff members dancing at a Bollywood-themed party without wearing masks or any other PPE.
Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said he found the footage “troubling”.
“We can’t have any exceptions to the rules particularly in aged care,” he said. “And PPE - it just absolutely has to be used.”
AdventCare chief executive David Reece told Nine News the party was for a staff member and did not include anyone from outside the facility.
He said once the dancing was over, staff members put on PPE.
But Premier Daniel Andrews took umbrage with his explanation that it was a so-called "closed event".
"I am not here to quarrel with the CEO of that facility, but I have seen comments from him talking about the fact that it was a closed event and only people who lived there and work there were involved but, frankly, staff do not live there, they live in the community and we have community transmission so I do not know that is the best rebuttal," he said.
"We all have to be vigilant and aged care is and will remain for the foreseeable future a high-risk environment."
Despite Melbourne’s low COVID-19 figures, the Premier has shut down any hopes of easing restrictions early. It comes as new footage has emerged of a party inside an aged care home, seemingly not adhering to social distancing rules. @ChristineAhern #COVID19Vic #9News pic.twitter.com/HTGpAb2YUm
— 9News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) September 21, 2020
Mark Lobosco, whose 93-year-old grandmother lives at the home, told Nine News that he was furious.
"(It's) extremely irresponsible and shocking to be honest, thinking they're in the best hands they could be in," he said.
According to Department of Health data, Victoria’s aged care facilities account for 604 deaths and 230 active cases.
Victoria reported 11 more cases of coronavirus on Monday as Melbourne remains in stage four restrictions.
with AAP
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