A COVID-19 cluster at a Jannali aged care centre which started when a staff member worked while infectious has now grown to include 12 residents.
South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) confirmed the outbreak at the Anglicare-run Mildred Symons House nursing home at Jannali last week while responding to questions from the Leader.
The Leader had learned about the outbreak from a social media post, which also said ill residents were being denied hospital treatment, purportedly due to high case numbers.
The centre, which is home to 122 residents, is in lockdown.
A SESLHD spokeswoman responding to questions regarding the cluster told the Leader late this afternoon that 12 residents and a second staff member were now infected with COVID-19.
She said 11 of the 12 residents were being care for at the centre, while one had been transferred to Sutherland Hospital for treatment. Their condition was not disclosed.
"On September 6, NSW Health was alerted that a staff member at Mildred Symons House, Jannali had tested positive to COVID-19," the spokeswoman said.
"This staff member had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.
"A second staff member and 12 residents have since tested positive to COVID-19.
The second staff member is fully vaccinated and over 90 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated."
She previously told the Leader the staff member was potentially infectious when they worked five shifts between August 30 and September 4.
"NSW Health and the Commonwealth Department of Health have a joint protocol to support the management of a COVID-19 case or outbreak in a residential aged care facility that ensures the clinical and welfare needs of residents are paramount," she said.
"Staff are carefully monitoring residents for any symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
"South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) is working closely with the facility to ensure the health and safety of all residents and staff is maintained.
"In order to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission, NSW Health has recommended that no visitors or non-essential staff are permitted to enter Mildred Symons House until further notice."
