Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 10, 2025 6 hours, 37 minutes ago
Medical News: Fresh Wave of Outbreaks Across Residential Facilities
Australia is witnessing another worrying resurgence of COVID-19 within its aged care sector, with new data from the Department of Health and Aged Care revealing 225 active infections across 48 residential aged care homes as of October 9, 2025. These outbreaks include 181 infected residents and 44 staff members, alongside one newly reported death. The spread is concentrated in New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, which collectively account for over half of all active clusters. Health officials have confirmed that 22 new outbreaks were detected within just a week, signaling that the virus continues to pose a persistent threat to vulnerable elderly populations despite vaccination efforts. In this
Medical News report, experts note that the virus has not disappeared but remains embedded in community circulation, occasionally re-entering care facilities through staff, visitors, or healthcare interactions.
COVID-19 Cases Surge Again in Australian Aged Care Homes
Rising Infections and Alarming Mortality Trends
The updated report paints a sobering picture of how COVID-19 continues to affect older Australians. Since early 2020, residential aged care homes have recorded more than 260,000 resident infections and 7,595 deaths. While the case fatality rate has dramatically declined—from 33 percent in 2020 to 1.5 percent in 2025—officials warn that even a small percentage translates into hundreds of preventable deaths each year due to the high-risk nature of these facilities. From January to early October 2025, COVID-19 accounted for 0.8 percent of all deaths in permanent aged care residents. Since the start of the Omicron era in December 2021, 2.8 percent of all aged care deaths have been attributed to COVID-19. This reduction in death rates reflects advances in vaccination, better therapeutics, and improved infection control—but also a reminder that vigilance must remain high, particularly as immunity wanes over time.
Workforce Pressures and Treatment Measures
Despite the rise in outbreaks, the report reveals that no emergency surge workforce shifts were required in the last week—suggesting that existing staffing levels were adequate to manage current caseloads. To date, more than 202,000 shifts have been provided by external agencies since 2020, supporting care homes during peak infection waves. Regarding treatments, the distribution of oral antivirals such as Lagevrio (Molnupiravir) and Paxlovid remains a critical tool in preventing severe outcomes. A total of 48,269 treatment courses of Lagevrio have been delivered to aged care homes since early 2022, alongside 174,443 prescriptions for Lagevrio and 28,121 for Paxlovid issued to residents through GPs and pharmacies.
Infection Control and Safety Audits Intensify
The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission continues to monitor compliance through both site and non-site audits. As of October 2025, over 6,105 infection control spot checks had been conducted across the country, ensuring that facilities adhere to PPE standards, hygiene prac
tices, and isolation protocols. In total, more than 35,500 quality monitoring activities have taken place since 2020, demonstrating the government’s ongoing focus on preventing lapses that could reignite widespread transmission.
A Persistent Threat to the Elderly
Although Australia has managed to lower the death rate from COVID-19 in aged care, the virus continues to exploit vulnerabilities in communal living settings. Experts warn that without consistent booster coverage, robust staff screening, and immediate outbreak containment, future waves could still devastate elderly populations. The data underscores an urgent need to maintain vigilance, update infection control strategies, and ensure that every facility remains prepared for seasonal and variant-driven resurgences.
References:
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/covid-19-outbreaks-in-australian-residential-aged-care-homes-10-october-2025?language=en
https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/covid-19-outbreaks-in-australian-residential-aged-care-homes-10-october-2025_0.pdf
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