2 March 2022

Dear Resident, Families and Friends,

I wish to inform you that a family member of a resident at our Footscray Home has tested positive for COVID-19.  The family member visited the Home yesterday morning and informed Doutta Galla today of their result.  As a result, we are now taking precautionary steps to manage any potential exposure.

The residents that have been identified as close contacts will have a Rapid Antigen Tested (RAT) and their health and wellbeing closely monitored over the coming days.  If there is any change to the wellbeing of these or any other residents the respective family members will be notified.  While we are assessing the situation the residents will be asked to keep to their respective floors.

The staff will wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and continue to practice social distancing, hand hygiene, and normal infection control cleaning regimes.

We will assess, review and respond according to the information and advice that we have at any particular time.  This means that we may need to quickly change our response at very short notice.  As frustrating this may be, keeping safe and caring for our residents, staff and our Footscray Home remains our priority.

At this stage there will not be any change to visiting arrangements.  However, all visitors will need to be fully vaccinated and show they have a negative RAT result upon admission. They will be asked to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and need to follow any other instructions given by staff.  Doutta Galla encourages you and your families to get the booster as soon as you are eligible.

If you have any questions, you can call the Footscray Home directly on 03 9687 6744 or you can email us at covid19questions@dgas.org.au

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Yours sincerely,

Vanda Iaconese

CEO