By Alesha Capone
The grandson of a woman living in a Hoppers Crossing aged care facility is concerned the public is not being made aware of the extent of COVID-19 cases among the centre’s residents and staff.
Kodei Mulcahy said his 77-year-old grandmother, Sandra, lived at Mecwacare’s John Atchison Centre.
On July 29, the Department of Health and Human Services reported that two cases of coronavirus had been linked to the home.
However, Mr Mulcahy said there had since been at least five deaths and dozens more cases of the virus diagnosed at the facility, which the wider public have not been made aware of.
Mr Mulcahy said that his grandmother had been diagnosed with the virus, but that she seemed to be “doing better”.
Star Weekly has seen emails marked “confidential” and signed by the Mecwacare chief executive Michele Lewis which have been sent to relatives of residents of the aged care centre since late July.
One email, dated July 28, said three residents and one staff member at the home had tested positive for COVID-19.
On August 2, an email stated 17 residents from Block A at the facility had tested positive.
On August 4, an email from the Mecwacare chief executive said 11 more residents had returned a positive test for the virus.
On August 6, three residents had passed away due to the virus, and eight residents remained in hospital.
On August 14, an email stated: “I am deeply sorry to inform you that another two of our treasured residents has succumbed to the coronavirus”.
Mr Mulcahy said he believed workers who attended the centre, such as food delivery people, should know about the number of positive COVID-19 cases at the facility so they can take measures to protect themselves.
Star Weekly contacted Mecwacare for comment. A Mecwacare spokesperson said: “The information you have been given is not correct”.
As of Monday, there were 2075 active coronavirus cases linked to aged care across Victoria.
