All residents and staff at an aged-care facility in Echuca have returned negative day 13 coronavirus test results.
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The negative results mean the Echuca Community for the Aged's Wharparilla Lodge facility can be stood down from the COVID -19 outbreak linked to Shepparton.
Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit from the Victorian Department of Health issued the stand down notice at midnight on Friday, September 3, following the negative test results.
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The facility went into lockdown after a staff member returned a positive COVID-19 test on August 26.
The staff member was later re-tested and returned a negative test. Despite the negative test people who were connected to the exposure site were still required to get tested and isolate.
Echuca Community for the Aged chief executive John Dean said he was proud of his teams and thier families for their efforts in trying circumstances.
"The facility had been in full lockdown, following our outbreak management plan from the August 26 and had worked closely with both the state and federal health departments to control the outbreak," he said.
"The government agencies provided the necessary extra personal protective equipment, surge workforce, advice and recommendations to support our staff and residents during the outbreak"
"My team and their families...have done a magnificent job in very trying circumstances. Not only did they demonstrate exceptional care to each other but ensured that all of our residents remained safe and healthy during the outbreak.
"I am also very humbled by the support from the broader community of Echuca-Moama despite the impact of the self-quarantine restrictions on staff, families and the community."
Mr Dean said 95 per cent of Echuca Community for the Aged residents have received either one or both doses of the Pfizer vaccine while 90 per cent of staff have received either one or both doses of AstraZenca or Pfizer vaccine.
Echuca Community for the Aged committee of management chairperson Ian Maddison said the facility could not have controlled the outbreak on its own.
"I want to acknowledge and thank the support provided by Echuca Regional Health, Swan Hill District Health, Bendigo Health and the various government agencies during the outbreak," he said.
"I also want to thank our staff and their dedicated leaders who continued their tremendous commitment to provide the wonderful care to our residents during the outbreak."
Mr Maddison said he was confident in how the outbreak was managed from when the staff member first tested positive to when the final test results came back.
"(It) was managed better than we could have expected without any previous experience," he said.
"For that we thank all those involved in any way from the excellent planning for such an event to the real life experience of managing the outbreak."
"The high vaccination percentages of both residents and staff undoubtedly contributed to the positive outcome. It is vital that that the broader community get vaccinated as soon as they become eligible."
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