Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child has thanked the community for continuing to get tested for Covid, with testing numbers doubling at both Wonthaggi and Cowes testing sites in recent weeks.
“Our local community has always been diligent with getting tested and we have seen more people tested recently, in preparation for travel, as well as due to an increase in exposures related to schools, popular eating venues, etc,” Ms Child said.
“With summer here and more visitors coming to our beautiful part of the world, as well as more locals getting out and about, the risk of community transmission of Covid is significantly higher.
“That’s why it’s reassuring to see people being mindful of the risk in our community and getting tested when they show symptoms of Covid, such as loss of taste or smell, a sore throat, fever or runny nose.”
Testing enables Covid cases to be identified early and minimises the risk of Covid-positive people interacting with others (in particular vulnerable community members) during their infectious period.
Ms Child also reminded the community of the importance of vaccination, saying Covid patients in Intensive Care units and inpatient beds are in the main, unvaccinated.
“People mistakenly think that Covid is like the flu but we know that it can be lethal without protection, and importantly, can leave people with long-Covid syndrome – very different to the flu – where it can have a huge long-term impact on health,” she said.
“If you haven’t been vaccinated, it’s not too late. If you are due for your Booster (five months after the second jab), pop into the Vaccination Clinic or your GP or Pharmacy and get yourself protected.
“We know the new variants are about and we know the best way to protect yourself and others is to be optimally vaccinated.”
The Community Vaccination Clinic at Wonthaggi Town Hall is this week (dates may be subject to change) open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9am-4pm. It will close for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
The centre will re-open on Tuesday, January 4: 9am – 4pm; Wednesday, January 5: 10am – 6pm; Thursday, January 6: 9am – 4pm; and Friday, January 7: 9am – 4pm.
To minimise the risk of getting Covid, people are also urged to gather outside where possible, maintain physical distancing of 1.5m from others, and wear a mask if they can’t distance.
“We are still in a Pandemic and whilst the numbers will increase significantly more, we still want to stop the spread locally as much as we can, to reduce the impact on our local community,” Ms Child said.