6pm
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
EAST Wimmera Health Service has confirmed the St Arnaud hospital and medical centre have both been identified as tier one exposure sites.
In a post to social media, the health service said a positive case visited the hospital between 6:15pm and 8:30pm on September 14 and the medical centre between 10:30am and 12:30pm on September 15.
Anyone who visited either site between those times is urged to get tested and isolate immediately.
Northern Grampians Shire mayor Murray Emerson reminded the community to remain calm and adhere to the advice provided by the state government and the local health authorities.
"We have spent many months without a Coronavirus case in our shire and we are lucky that the affected person has dutifully followed government health advice and presented at the hospital for testing," he said in a stratement.
"East Wimmera Health Service has done an amazing job to ensure that the community was informed as soon as the positive case was known, to mitigate the risk and to provide them with access to a public forum.
"We all know what we need to do because we are reminded regularly. Vaccination is your first line of defence against this virus so please ensure you are vaccinated as soon as possible.
"Otherwise, the message remains consistent: get tested if you are unwell, wear your mask, stay physically distanced, check in everywhere you go and be fastidious with your hand hygiene."
11.50am:
In the daily press briefing, COVID response commander Jeroen Weimar said the case in east Wimmera was an individual who is isolating closely and lives in a remote location.
"We have a good inquiry line around the source of the acquisition and should land that over the coming day or so,' he said.
"The link we believe is from workers from Ballarat that came in. We will follow that up in next day or so."
Regional Victoria has seen nine new cases since Thursday including the St Arnaud case and three in Ballarat.
Earlier
MEMBERS of the St Arnaud community who have the slightest of symptoms are being encouraged to get tested for COVID-19.
It comes as a a person who visited East Wimmera Health Service's St Arnaud hospital campus tested positive to the virus yesterday.
In a post on social media, the health service confirmed the person attended the hospital on Tuesday.
The service said they will have a drive up testing service open today from 9am at the St Arnaud Campus.
"Members of the community who have symptoms or who have been directed by a hospital representative or Public Health Unit representative will be able to access testing," they said.
"This will be a drive up and remain in your car service, no bookings required. Please access the Hospital grounds via our rear entrance located via Long Street and James Street."
Other EWHS sites will continue to offer testing by calling the site to arrange a time include those in Birchip, Charlton, Donald, St Arnaud and Wycheproof.
The Grampians Public Health Unit will host an online community meeting to provide information on the current situation in St Arnaud. This will be via Microsoft Teams at midday Friday 17 September.
The Grampians Public Health Unit have started contact tracing. Information regarding exposure sites (if any) will be shared as they become known. We ask for
The service asked for patience as this process is carried out.
The Bendigo Advertiser has removed the paywall from our stories relating to health warnings and safety of the community in regards to the coronavirus. 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.