And a third death was revealed at one of those clusters, involving residents from the Rosewood Rest Home in Christchurch. The Aged Care Association, representing 600 rest homes, asked the Ministry of Health 10 days ago for all new admissions to rest homes to be tested for the virus. That's the number of resident admissions we have across the country into rest homes. The latest deaths showed just how vulnerable the elderly were, and if there was no change in the stance of the ministry, rest homes would try to source their own tests, he said. Wallace said as well as new admissions, staff at rest homes should also be tested for the virus.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 13, 2020 17:37 UTC