Deputy Premier Steven Miles says even though COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 15 residents and infected almost 200 other residents and staff at the Jeta aged care facility in Bethania, such an extreme measure would be a last resort.
His comments come after the Federal Department confirmed an evacuation of the facility would not be required.
Mr Miles says moving residents from the facility would be fraught with problems.
“Evacuating aged care facilities is a very big and difficult task. I know firsthand how challenging it can be and how disruptive it can be for those residents.”
“These are, by and large, not very mobile and well folks and, so, if you think about moving people who have mobility issues — many of whom have dementia and confusion issues — moving them from their home can be very dangerous for them.”
He says the situation at Jeta Gardens was indicative of a national issue and the crisis was not confined to deaths from the virus.
“It’s the cumulative impact of staff shortages, of isolation requirements, of other supply chain issues.”
“We’ve got people now who have been isolated, who are feeling very isolated, the impact on their mental health is significant or they’re not getting the regularity of care that they used to, whether that’s a bathing or other assistance.
“They’re not getting in some cases, the medication and medical care that they would normally receive because their facility has staff off with COVID or because they’ve potentially been exposed to COVID.
“So, right now, that’s the epicentre of what’s going on.”
It comes as the number of people infected with the virus in Logan and the Scenic Rim has increased again since yesterday and Queensland has had another nine deaths across the state.
Logan now has 23,359 infections – a jump of 217 overnight, while the Scenic Rim has reached 1,228 cases – an increase of 17.
Chief Health Officer Doctor John Gerrard says of the deaths recorded today, one was an unvaccinated person in their 50s, one a person in their 60s with a single dose and a person in their 70s with one dose.
He says there was a clear pattern now of deaths being among older Queenslanders who hadn’t received their booster shot.
Seven of the latest deaths were in aged care, while more than half of Queensland’s 277 deaths since the pandemic started were people in aged care facilities.
More than 660 people are in Queensland hospitals with COVID-19 at the moment and 45 are in intensive care.
Doctor Gerrard says there is some good news though because there’s been a substantial reduction in hospitalisations, down from 727 since yesterday.
