Kiama Council has responded to incorrect information that a large number of Blue Haven Bonaira residents have COVID-19, reporting the facility currently has 4 residents and 1 staff member who have tested positive.

The information came from the Department of Health and Aged Care COVID-19 outbreak report for 16 December, which was further spread by other news outlets.

 The report outlined that the aged care facility has 15 residents and 10 staff who are COVID positive.

Council is unsure how the Federal Government has ended with these numbers but Communications Officer, Brent Blackburn, says they might collect data over the month leading up to the date.

“The report is implying that we currently have 25 people, staff and residents, with COVID which is wildly off the mark. I don’t know why the Federal Government data is presented that way, but it is a matter for them,” Mr Blackburn says.

 “We wanted to clear it up because we can’t have people thinking we have a massive outbreak when they want to go visit their loved ones for Christmas.

He says Blue Haven management will look into what happened.

Visitors to Blue Haven Bonaira are welcome, but visitors of a COVID positive resident should seek advice from staff beforehand about correct infection control practices.