Notable increase in Covid-19 cases in mental health service

John Farrelly: It is concerning to see how the virus has taken hold in our mental health centres again. Picture: Jason Clarke

The Mental Health Commission (MHC) has said it is concerned about a "notable increase" in suspected and confirmed cases of Covid-19 among residents and staff of 183 residential mental health services in the first two weeks of the year.

In the fortnight from New Year’s Eve to Friday last, January 15, the number of mental health facilities that had reported suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19 to the MHC increased from 17 to 55, while the number of residents with confirmed cases of the virus increased from 15 to 61 and the number of staff members confirmed with the virus increased from 36 to 125.