Cases continue to climb

Local cases are back to their highest level since February, with the shire now recording 355 active cases.

Case numbers have tripled in the past three weeks.

Given the relaxed rules around testing and isolating, health officials say its likely that there many more cases undetected in the community.

With winter approaching, people are being urged to do all they can to protect themselves.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said the organisation was preparing for a further surge in cases and hospitalisation, which are likely to hit in mid to late April.

“Whilst we are very ready to treat Covid patients, and our usual patients, and keep them all separated and safe, we need the community to help. Like every industry, we continue to be short staffed, and what we need to do is prevent people from getting sick whenever we can,” Ms Child said.

“Every wave is different, and what we know about this BA.2 variant is that this variant is said to be 50-70 per cent more infectious, and the peak is going to land right in the middle of school holidays and Easter where our community is busier and co-mingling more.”

Ms Child said although the numbers vary day by day, it was now “routine” to have several Covid patients in the emergency department and inpatient areas every day.

“We have in excess of 40 people being cared for at home by our Hospital in the Home Covid Pathway team, on the moderate (higher monitoring level) pathway.”

She said the next few weeks would see health services stretched.

“We understand how important it is for the broader community to get back to ’Covid normal’, so we have already begun to introduce safeguards to keep ourselves and our patients safe.”

There were things everyone could do to help slow the spread of the virus, she said.

“Good ventilation, meeting outdoors, avoiding crowds, restricting visitors and movement, maintaining distance, and most importantly, wearing a N95 mask, are just some of the things we can all do to prevent the spread.

“Importantly, we ask people to please not ignore symptoms, and get tested. Testing and isolation remain key to stopping transmission to vulnerable people.”

A rapid antigen collection service is available for eligible people from the Health Hub in Cowes and is currently operating from 9.30am – 11.30am Mondays and Thursdays.

The drive through clinic at Watt Street in Wonthaggi is currently open 9am – 1pm every day except Sunday.

These times are subject to change and the latest hours are available on the BCH Facebook page and website: www.covidbasscoasthealth.org.au/covid-19updates.