IN good news on the COVID-19 front, four remaining Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel left Eventide Lutheran Homes on Friday as the aged care facility comes out of lockdown, with only three residents and two staff members still in quarantine.

On Monday last week, two Army, two Navy and one Air Force personnel were deployed to Eventide on Ballarat Road, who went into lockdown last weekend following an outbreak of COVID-19, with 12 residents and 13 staff testing positive.

Lutheran Church of Australia, Victorian district administrator, Stephen Mildred, said impacted residents and staff were generally asymptomatic or reported only minimal symptoms.

The ADF personnel assisted with cleaning and facilitating communication between residents and their families.

“They were a great help assisting the residents speak with their loved ones,” he said.

“This was a time-consuming activity due to the need to change personal protective equipment between every resident’s room.

“One of the ADF personnel has already returned, with the four remaining leaving later (Friday).

“Praise God, that we are well on the way out of lockdown.”

Meanwhile, Western District Health Service (WDHS) has continued to have a good run with no outbreaks across its facilities and no nursing staff at Hamilton Base Hospital reported as isolating due to COVID-19, as of last Thursday evening.

Western District Health Service acting chief executive, Nick Starkie, said that with over 820 staff the number of employees isolating fluctuates daily, however 14 people were presently isolating due to COVID-19 yesterday (close contacts, positive cases, or awaiting PCR test results), most from administrative and support services within the organisation.

“Last week, one positive case was identified at the Grange and one positive case in Penshurst,” he said.

“Both residents are doing well and have now completed their quarantine periods.

“Staffing continues to be a challenge at WDHS, as it is across the healthcare sector, with seasonal flu cases also impacting the workforce.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to staff working in every area of our health service, from nursing and allied health, through to cleaning, support services and administration, for their compassion and dedication to caring for our community.”

WDHS recorded 221 new cases for the seven-day period to June 9, with nine cases in the Hospital in the Home program and three cases in hospital.