COOEE LODGE & JACK TOWNEY HOSTELS IN LOCKDOWN
Published on 30 March 2020
With the health and safety of our residents and staff in mind, Council has taken precautionary measures to ‘lockdown’ Cooee Lodge and Jack Towney Hostels in response to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
COVID-19 has caused outbreaks of illness in the Australian community with advice from Department of Health emphasising the risk of serious illness from COVID-19 increases with age. Residential care facilities are particularly susceptible to COVID-19 outbreaks. Even when facilities actively try to prevent outbreaks occurring, many external factors may lead to residents or staff contracting the COVID-19 and outbreaks in residential care facilities.
Director Community Services, Jo Manion says,
“We encourage family and friends to stay in contact with their loved ones through telephones and video call technologies and staff will be assisting where possible to achieve this contact. Our staff will do what we can to ensure we are keeping these channels of communication open for you and your family.”
Adding,
“It is important to know that we have no COVID-19 cases at this time. We have instigated our outbreak control procedures and our staff are working tirelessly to maintain the health of all our residents. The health and safety of our clients and residents is our primary concern and staff are being very mindful of their own contact within the community.”
“Restricted access to the village has been implemented and the community is reminded that no one from the community is to come to either Cooee Lodge or Jack Towney Hostel and any enquiries MUST be by telephone.”
Council is following Federal Government and NSW Health advice in its response to this rapidly-evolving national pandemic and will continue to review updates.
Should you require further information regarding COVID-19, please refer to the Commonwealth Department of Health website https://www.health.gov.au/
Should you wish to discuss the measures that we are undertaking please feel free to contact our Director Community Services, Jo Manion on (02) 6817 8800.
Further information on NSW Health measures and advice in combating COVID-19 are available at | www.health.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus.
Residents are also encouraged to stay up to date with Council’s response locally by visiting www.gilgandra.nsw.gov.au/news
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Contact: Joanne Manion
Director Community Services
02 6817 8800