ACT Health has said most aged care homes have been exposed to COVID-19, as facilities struggle to keep Omicron out.

A spokesperson said the directorate expects continuing high case numbers in residential aged care facilities.

"Most residential aged care facilities in the ACT have experienced some level of COVID-19 exposure," a spokesperson said.

"As Omicron continues to spread we can expect high case numbers in our community and COVID-19 exposures across all settings, including residential aged care facilities."

Uniting Mirinjani and Uniting Amala aged care homes have had 35 staff and four residents test positive to COVID-19.

Warrigal Stirling has 16 residents confirmed to have COVID-19. A letter to families said: "staff who have contracted the virus has been more than residents number and many are in isolation."

"Everyone is clinically stable with some minor symptoms. Only [two residents] who are positive remain in hospital and [are] clinically stable."

The Canberra Times is now aware of at least 14 homes or retirement villages in the region that have been exposed to COVID, including one in Goulburn and one in Queanbeyan. The federal Department of Health says there are 26 residential aged care facilities in the ACT.

BaptistCare Griffith has had two residents test positive. General manager of residential services Allan Waters said "a number of staff members" had also tested positive across the three ACT homes.

"All staff are fully vaccinated. There continues to be significant and rapid COVID-19 transmission in the community, and our staff are exposed to this," he said.

"We are completing rapid antigen tests on all staff before they start their shift, in addition to the entry screening and automated body temperature readings."

Uniting, Warrigal and BaptistCare said some residents were isolating and visitation had been limited to help prevent the spread of Omicron.

A Uniting spokesperson said any residents who had COVID-19 or were close contacts had been asked to isolate in their rooms.

"Our outbreak management plan focuses on effective infection control, increased symptoms identification and response, and strongly promoting vaccinations. [One-hundred] per cent of employees and a vast majority of our residents across all Uniting homes are fully vaccinated," they said.

Mr Waters of BaptistCare said at the advice of ACT Health all three homes remained closed to visitors, excluding essential care and end of life visitation.

"Depending on the level of exposure, residents have been asked to limit their movements and may be asked to remain in their rooms, or after a certain period of isolation are now able to leave their rooms and socialise in their respective wing of the home," he said.

A fact sheet supplied Warrigal to the families of residents said while residents were isolated after an outbreak.

"Residents/customers who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be moved into isolation in their rooms, and all other residents will also be isolated as a precaution," it says.

The provider has created a program called "partnering in care with Warrigal", which will allow residents to have one visitor each day, even during a lockdown.

A visit is for a maximum of four hours, and registered loved ones must undertake an online module by the Department of Health before visiting.

Casual visitors are not permitted.

ACT Health has said it is working with the federal government and the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission to help aged care homes active their COVID-19 response plans.

"This includes public health advice and support around appropriate use of personal protective equipment, COVID-19 testing and other strategies to decrease the risk of transmission to residents and staff," a spokesperson said.

As of January 7, the Department of Health said there were 3205 active cases of COVID related to aged care across 495 facilities nationwide.

However, according to that data there are no active outbreaks in aged care facilities in the ACT. The department said there had only been two outbreaks in ACT aged care homes since 2020. This is despite ACT Health declaring an outbreak if just one resident or staff member tests positive at an aged care home.

The two outbreaks named were Calvary Haydon Retirement Community in Bruce, in which seven people died in 2021 and St Andrews Village Hostel Hughes, which recorded seven resident cases and no deaths.

Aged and Community Services Australia CEO Paul Sadler previously told The Canberra Times figures previously released by the department did not seem consistent with anecdotal feedback he had received.

"I suspect that the figures you have would be consistent with the feedback I'm getting from providers, both in Canberra, but also more broadly across NSW, which is that the case rates and the number of outbreaks are really skyrocketing high," he said.

ACT Health has said it is working with other jurisdictions and the Commonwealth to provide updated national guidelines.

Our coverage of the health and safety aspects of this outbreak of COVID-19 in the ACT is free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. You can also sign up for our newsletters for regular updates.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:

I am a trainee at The Canberra Times. I currently cover breaking news, as well as an assortment of other random topics. I previously worked in digital news. Email tips or cute dog videos to lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.

I am a trainee at The Canberra Times. I currently cover breaking news, as well as an assortment of other random topics. I previously worked in digital news. Email tips or cute dog videos to lanie.tindale@canberratimes.com.au.

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.