MEDIA RELEASE | 8 July 2020
Older Victorians must be highest priority during renewed restrictions
All Victorians are being urged to look out for their older friends and relatives during this new period of restrictions to combat the COVID-19 epidemic.
The Victorian Government has announced stay-at-home restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire from 11.59 tonight. This it to combat a renewed surged in COVID-19 cases in those areas.
Tina Hogarth-Clarke, Chief Executive Officer of the Council on the Ageing Victoria, said that all Victorians must heed the latest Government and health advice to ensure that the spread of COVID-19 is limited.
‘Remember that doing the right thing will help protect your parents, grandparents and uncles and aunts,’ Ms Hogarth-Clarke said.
‘Older Victorians have contributed — and continue to contribute — so much to our communities,’ Ms Hogarth-Clarke said. ‘We must make their health and safety our highest priority.’
COTA Victoria is the leading not-for-profit organisation representing the interests and rights of people aged 50+ in Victoria.
People over the age of 70 have an increased risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms if they contract the virus.
Residents of metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire should leave home for the following four reasons only:
- shopping for food and supplies that you need
- care and caregiving – including attending regular doctors’ appointments
- exercise (outdoors, with one other person from your household)
- work and education – if you can’t do it from home.
They should not should not visit friends or family unless it is for compassionate or caregiving reasons.
Complete information about the new restrictions is available at the Department of Health and Human Services’ corona virus page.
Ms Hogarth-Clarke urged aged care facilities in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to exercise compassion when applying visitor restrictions and where possible to comply with the Industry Code on Visiting Residential Aged Care.
‘The code provides guidance for aged-care facilities,’ Ms Hogarth-Clarke said.
‘If people face issues visiting friends and relatives in aged care facilities, they should contact the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) — 1800 237 981 — or contact the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission — 1800 951 822.
Media contact:
Phillip Money
Senior Media and Communications Advisor
Council on the Ageing Victoria
M: 0407 329 055
E: pmoney@cotavic.org.au
