Australian Prime Minister Issues Aged Care Warning: Possible Lockdown on Visits to Protect the Elderly

Scott Morrison has this morning signalled the need for further restrictions to protect those living in aged care homes around the country against the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak.

There is a strong possibility that access aged care homes across the country could be heavily restricted in the next 24 hours. If you have a loved one in aged care, today could be the last day to visit for at least a couple of weeks.

The Prime Minster spoke to Sky News this morning, saying that the government “considered restricting visitation to aged care facilities,” with advice expected to be given to the national cabinet tomorrow.

“People can expect to see a fairly significant restriction on visitation to people in nursing homes,” he said.

“Now I understand, I went through this with my own family over the summer, when you have elderly relatives who are in nursing homes you obviously want to see them, it may be the last time you do get to see them, and that was certainly the case in my family’s experience.”

“And so that needs to be done sensitively and it will be done sensitively but we need to lessen the broader risk to the people in those facilities.”