Pandemic casualties continue to send shockwaves through the community, with the death toll amongst Melbourne Greeks rising to at least 41, according to information obtained by Neos Kosmos.
Meanwhile, St Basil’s Homes for the Aged in Fawkner still ranks high on the state’s largest aged care clusters’ list.
As of Saturday 15 August, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services reports 190 coronavirus cases were linked to the nursing home, with fatalities amounting to dozens.
Neos Kosmos can confirm that at least 33 St Basil’s residents who died from the virus are members of the Greek community.
Amongst the earliest victims of the outbreak was Archondia Savva, who lost her life on 26 July at the age of 98.
A resident at St Basil’s since 2013, Ms Savva was in a relatively good state until recently, as her daughter Androula Aristidou recounts, with the family believing due to her old age she was safer at the nursing home.
‘AT LEAST SHE LEFT PEACEFUL’
But developments following the outbreak affected not only her health but also the communication she had with her loved ones, which was limited since the end of June to video calls or ‘distant’ visits separated by a glass panel.
“[…]I remember my mum extending her hands trying to hug us,” Ms Aristidou recalls.”It was Saturday, 11 July around 1.30 pm that we last saw my mother[…]
They were notified about a carer testing positive to the virus, on 12 July at which point all visitations were banned. Ms Savva was confirmed to be infected with COVID-18 on 17 July.
And though she wasn’t presenting symptoms, she was transferred to the hospital but then sent back to the nursing home.
“We were constantly calling for updates, with most calls unanswered.
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“Until Sunday 19 July, we were being told she is in a steady state. On the next day, I spoke to her via facetime hearing her complaining she was in pain.”
Ms Aristidou says that following the takeover of the premises by Federal Government officials, communication was compromised even more.
Her mother passed just a day after they told them she was taken to Epworth Hospital.
“Thankfully, with personal protective equipment, they allowed us to go into her room and say goodbye. This is the moment we cherish. At least she left peaceful…,” Ms Aristidou says.
The funeral though took place on 3 August, a bit more than a week after her death.
“This is yet another story,” Ms Aristidou comments.
“I hope nobody would experience this. Their loved ones dying alone without being able to farewell them with a proper funeral.”
