The Victorian State Coroner is investigating the deaths of five residents of St Basil’s Home for the Aged, the site of a heartbreaking coronavirus outbreak in Melbourne.
So far, 159 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to the aged care home at Fawkner, in Melbourne’s north.
Judge John Cain has commenced the investigation by directing Victoria Police to compile a brief of evidence.
“As the matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Coroners Court of Victoria, it would be inappropriate to comment any further,” a police spokeswoman said.
Under the Coroners Act of 2008, Judge Cain must find, if possible, the causes of deaths and the circumstances in which they occurred.
To date, 162 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria.
The St Basil’s home in Melbourne is one of about 100 aged care facilities in Victoria affected by coronavirus outbreaks, which between them have been linked to a total of 108 deaths.
All of the staff from the home were placed into quarantine on July 22 after they were determined to be close contacts of confirmed cases.
The ABC has attempted to contact St Basil’s for comment.
More to come.
