Covid cases climb – no time for complacency

Covid cases in Bass Coast have remained above 30 for most of November.

In the past week, numbers have gone as high as 40, with Cowes (3922) recording the most active cases in the shire.

Cowes cases first hit double figures on November 24, with cases at 14 (as of Monday), while the surge in cases in Wonthaggi and Inverloch has subsided.

There are currently 21 active cases recorded on Phillip Island and San Remo (as of Tuesday, November 30).

Testing at the Cowes drive through site is again operating seven days a week, in response to increasing demand.

Bass Coast Health Deputy CEO Louise Sparkes urged the Phillip Island community to continue to get tested for COVID-19 even if they show the mildest of symptoms, as the virus spreads within our community.

“Testing enables people to know whether or not they have COVID-19 and if they learn that they do, they can then isolate and not further unwittingly spread the virus to their family, friends and others in our community,” she said.

“By minimising the spread of the virus, that will ease the pressure on our health system, on our schools and on our businesses.

“With COVID-19 continuing to remain active in our community, it’s vital that people get tested for even the mildest of COVID symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, fever, chills or loss of taste and smell.”

Testing is available at Cowes and Wonthaggi.

From this week (November 29), the Cowes Testing Tent at the Transit Station in Chapel Street will be open from 9am to 2pm, seven days a week.

The Wonthaggi Testing Tent at the former McBride Campus of Wonthaggi Secondary College in Watt Street will be open from 9am-4pm, seven days a week.

The number of tests at the two sites has continued to climb, with over 2000 tests conducted between November 15 and 21, a thousand more than at the same time in October.

The most up-to-date testing times are available on the Bass Coast Health Facebook page.