Smorgon House kitchen worker diagnosed with COVID

A CASE of COVID-19 has been diagnosed in a kitchen worker at Jewish Care Victoria’s Gary Smorgon House in Caulfield.

The individual, who is on the staff of Jewish Care catering contractor AFACorp, reportedly last worked at Gary Smorgon House on July 19, and Jewish Care reports that no close contacts have been identified among Jewish Care elders or staff. Kitchen staff identified as close contacts have been contacted and quarantined.

“Our thoughts are with the AFACorp staff member who is in quarantine at home,” stated Jewish Care Victoria CEO Bill Appleby.

“We are ensuring they are linked to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and government supports available. We have notified relevant public health officials as required and are following strict procedures as directed by the DHHS,” he said.

DHHS requested a lockdown of Gary Smorgon House as a precaution until testing of all elders and staff can occur. DHHS is coordinating the testing which it has advised will occur between July 31 and August 2.

Appleby added, “We will continue to offer supports to all elders, taking every precaution to ensure staff and elder wellbeing.

“We want to reassure everyone we are working together in a proactive manner to protect our community. I would like to thank our amazing elders, our committed staff, and DHHS for acting swiftly and with an abundance of caution,” he stated.