TLC Aged Care Mandates Rapid COVID-19 Tests for all Visitors

Melbourne-based aged care provider, TLC Aged Care, has announced that all visitors to their aged care homes will be required to take a rapid COVID-19 test and return a negative result before entry.

Visitors will need to drive up to a testing van at each of the homes and wait 10-15 minutes for their results before they are allowed to enter the home.

TLC Aged Care CEO Lou Pascuzzi told Cannel 9’s Today that this action was necessary to avoid a similar outbreak seen in some of Sydney’s aged care homes.

"We realise that despite being double-dose vaccinated for all of our staff back in April and contractors and residents, what we have seen in NSW with outbreaks in 27 homes over 150 residents in hospital, and over 15 deaths - vaccinated and unvaccinated ... we had to do something else," he said.

"This is the solution and mandating it is critical - because if you're not going to mandate it - the odds are the person who doesn't have it as they walk in will have COVID."

The rapid tests TLC Aged Care will use are 95% effective and have been approved by the TGA, and will add an added layer of protection for vulnerable aged care residents.

Find out more about TLC Aged Care.