Staff at aged care homes are being ordered to wear masks as health authorities battle a number of outbreaks in Victoria's nursing homes
Nursing home staff have been ordered to wear surgical masks after doctors working in Victorian facilities said they were laughed at for wearing protective gear or told it is a “bad look”, despite growing coronavirus outbreaks in Melbourne.
Late on Monday, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt announced people who provided care in residential facilities or homes would be required to wear a mask, following recommendations from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee.Four million masks are to be made available to aged-care providers in Greater Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire.
Dr Sachin Patel runs Aged Care GP, which sends doctors into 70 aged-care facilities across Melbourne. He said that he required his GPs to wear not only a mask, but “full” protective equipment, including a face shield, gowns and gloves.However he said these precautions had not always been welcomed. “People hate it,” he said.
“It is not comfortable. It’s not nice. I don’t argue with that,” Dr Patel said. “But the whole situation is not comfortable or nice.”Last week, most of Melbourne’s hospital staff were directed to wear surgical masks at all times while at work, and on Monday the Australian Medical Association said nursing home staff should be doing the same thing.
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