Victoria's coroner to investigate five deaths inside St Basil's care home during coronavirus crisis

Victoria has recorded more than 160 deaths from COVID-19, with at least 20 linked to the St Basil's aged care home in the suburb of Fawkner.

Health workers remove resident from St. Basil's aged care in Fawkner.

Health workers remove a resident from St. Basil's aged care facility in the Melbourne suburb of Fawkner. Source: AAP

Victoria's state coroner is investigating the deaths of five residents at an aged care home linked to the state's coronavirus outbreak.

Judge John Cain has asked Victoria Police to compile evidence about the deaths at St Basil's Home for the Aged.

Victoria has recorded more than 160 deaths from COVID-19, with at least 20 linked to the Fawkner aged care home.

The investigation is currently limited to five of those deaths.
As of Wednesday, 159 coronavirus cases were linked to St Basil's, 84 of them residents.

The coroner says the focus of its investigation will be determined once evidence is provided to the court.

St Basil's management has been accused of failing to comply with a requirement to tell federal regulators of an outbreak.

Federal officials say they were not aware of an outbreak until the state government notified them on 14 July.

Management of the home says state authorities were notified on 9 July.

Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am. During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons.

Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative. The full list of restrictions can be found here.

All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.

People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.


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Source: AAP, SBS


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