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CHRISTEL YARDLEY / COSAS
The Atawhai Assisi nursing home near Hamilton has been locked up since residents tested positive for coronavirus. (File photo)
At least 70 cases of coronavirus across the country have been linked to care centers for the elderly.
Internationally, nursing homes are under increasing scrutiny during the global pandemic and allegations of inhumane treatment have been raised at such facilities in Europe and North America.
The way the problem is handled in New Zealand has been met with praise and criticism from experts on the subject.
Three nursing homes, two in Christchurch and one in Waikato, have been confirmed to be the source of “clusters” of 10 or more connected cases. Two of New Zealand’s four coronavirus deaths were among those “groups.”
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A woman in her 90s who lived at Rosewood Rest Home in Christchurch died Thursday. A fellow resident, a man in his 70s, has also died since then.
The couple was among 20 residents of the nursing home dementia unit who were rushed to Burwood Hospital on Monday after they were suspected of being exposed to the disease.
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON / THINGS
Two of the four New Zealanders who died of coronavirus were residents of Rosewood Rest Home and Hospital in Christchurch.
Six of them, including the man and woman who died, had tested positive for Covid-19. Seven others were believed to also have the disease, while the remaining seven had no symptoms.
In total, 30 coronavirus cases had been related to the group of rest homes.
Another Christchurch residence, George Manning Lifecare and Village, has seen 14 cases of coronavirus among staff and residents.
Two people associated with an Auckland nursing home, Ellerslie Gardens Lifecare, were also confirmed to have coronavirus.
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University of Auckland professor Ngaire Kerse said the New Zealand healthcare system had handled Covid-19 outbreaks in nursing homes well until now.
University of Auckland public health professor Ngaire Kerse, who leads research on caring for the elderly, said nursing home residents were particularly vulnerable to Covid-19.
In addition to being more likely to die or suffer serious complications due to their age, they needed multiple daily contacts with staff who left the facility after their shifts.
Kerse said DHBs, public health units and the residential elderly care sector were working together effectively to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
“I think we are very fortunate in New Zealand to not have as much disease burden as abroad. While there are quite a few cases related to staff and visitors, I think the system is handling reasonably well.”
But, Aged Care Association chief executive Simon Wallace said the testing regimen for nursing home residents and staff had been far from comprehensive.
He described the Rosewood Rest Home deaths as “a tragedy waiting to happen” and called for all frontline senior care workers to be tested regardless of whether they show symptoms.
