A man in his 20s was among the 14 new coronavirus deaths reported in Victoria on Friday, becoming the youngest person to die of COVID-19 in Australia.
Most of the deaths concerned the elderly and 12 were linked to aged care outbreaks.
Apart from the man in his 20s, the other deaths concerned three women and two men in their 80s; four women and four men in their 90s.
The state’s death toll rose to 289 since the start of the pandemic with at least 41 people being of Greek origin, mainly due to the outbreak at St Basil’s which resulted in at least 33 deaths.
Amongst the residents who lost their lives is Filia Xynidakis, although Ms Xynidakis’s death was not COVID-19 related.
As her daughter, Klery Loutas, explains, her mother “was tested several times at St Basil’s and the hospital she was transferred to and never did she receive a positive COVID test result.”
“The neglect she endured whilst the government took over St Basil’s accelerated her dementia causing irreversible damage, leading to her death,” Ms Loutas said.
Meanwhile, couple Ilias and Hrissoula Trimbo, who were married for 53 years, were also among the list of fatalities. Both residents at St Basil’s, they died within a week of each other; first Hrissoula, and then Ilias.
Beloved Greek-Australian Pavlos Dimotakis lost the battle with coronavirus at the age of 72, 16 days after his admission to Austin Hospital. A resident of St Basil’s in Fawkner until his passing, Mr Dimotakis loved the facility and was very proud of his room. He viewed St Basil’s staff as his second family.
READ MORE: 31 deaths at St Basil’s Homes for the Aged, including couple who died a week of each other
Other aged care residents of St Basil’s who have fallen victim to coronavirus are: Apostolis Barboussas; Marija Rukavina; Maria Vasilakis; Eleni Alexiou; Georgia Mitsinakos; Theodoros Makridis; Ilias Takis; Fotini Atzarakis; Gina Andrikopoulos; Nicolina Pingiaro; Boro Petkovic; John Dimitriou; Hrisoula Trimbos; Ilias Trimbos; Pavlos Dimotakis; Theodoula Andreou; Malama Valkanidis; Anna Barboussas; Loutas Savvas and Jakov Pucar
Recently, the national aged care regulator has been accused of a “catastrophic communications failure” causing a “potentially deadly delay” at St Basil’s after it was revealed that it took four days to inform the federal government about the first COVID-19 case at the Melbourne facility.
This delay resulted in an increase in cases with tragic consequences.
Neos Kosmos’ sources point to at least 41 COVID-19-related deaths of Greeks in Melbourne.
Last Friday, Fotios Karamitos, 80, died from COVID-19.
A well-known and respected member of the community, Mr Karamitos was part of several Greek organisations, serving for years as a Board member of the Panarcadians, O Kolokotronis. Mr Karamitos was also a member of the Greek Orthodox Church in North Altona, where he made many friends and was held in high esteem.
Mr Karamitos had underlying heart issues and his strong cough over the past few days saw him transported to the hospital when he took his final breath.
READ MORE: GCM President Bill Papastergiadis’ tribute to Fotios Karamitos
He was then tested positive for coronavirus, according to his son Michael Karamitos who, with his brother Jim and mother Sophia has to get tested and isolate until they receive their results.
“Right now I can’t go home to my family. I will quarantine at my late father’s place with my mother and brother,” his son told Neos Kosmos.
Greek Community of Melbourne President Bill Papastergiadis also released a statement upon Mr Karamitos passing. “For me, Fotios was not just another person. He gave me courage when I most needed it,” he said, remembering Mr Karamitos welcoming manner.