Staff at Millicent’s largest single-site workplace are currently working extra shifts on account of COVID.

Boneham Aged Care Services chief executive Michael Filsell said the pandemic had arrived in Millicent and was having an indirect impact on his 145 employees and 110 residents.

“The staff are all working increased shifts and overtime to cover shortages and they are under great pressure at work and at home maintaining the safety and care of our Boneham Aged Care Services residents as well as their own families,” Mr Filsell said.

“It seems the inevitable has now happened since our borders opened and COVID is becoming widespread across SA including Millicent and the entire South East.

“This is a concerning time for residents, families and, of course, for our dedicated team trying to keep our valued residents as safe as we possibly can.

“We are coming under increasing staffing pressure due to staff being off work as close contacts of positive COVID cases.

“We see the next four to eight weeks as the most critical time for us in the entire two years of the current outbreak and we are reviewing our advanced planning in readiness.

“We are maintaining all services for the moment, however we are developing emergency plans should our staffing levels deteriorate further in coming days and weeks.”