Island's Covid update

THURSDAY, JULY 22

Today (Thursday), approximately 150 people who attended a Tier1 exposure site on Phillip Island were asked to get tested again.

Text messages from DHHS were sent out, due to concerns over viral fragments detected in Phillip Island wastewater earlier in the week.

All those who received the message were asked to get tested again then continue to isolate.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child urged anyone who received the message to get tested straight away.

Some people questioned why viral fragments didn’t show up in wastewater testing while the visitors responsible for the current exposure sites were on the island.

Gippsland Region Public Health Unit said wastewater testing in the region had been ramped up since the positive cases were identified.

Previous tests taken on July 6, 13 and 17 had not detected any viral fragments, however fragments were detected on July 19 and 20.

A spokesperson said the positive wastewater result was unlikely to be caused by the visitors, who had all returned to Melbourne.

“COVID-19 should clear quickly in waste if the cases leave the area, within 24 hours.

“The current assumption was the positive wastewater was due to a potentially undiagnosed case and not residual from last week.

However, like everything, there is uncertainty. The more people get tested, the more clarity we will have.”

At Thursday’s press conference, Jeroen Weimar confirmed there were currently no confirmed positive cases on Phillip Island.

However he said every member of the group from Melbourne that visited Phillip Island had now tested positive, as well as one of their household contacts.

Of the 805 primary close contacts currently isolating on the island or in San Remo, 60 per cent had already returned a negative result.

No additional exposure sites have been listed for Phillip Island or San Remo since July 19, however people are advised to regularly check the state government Coronavirus website for updates.

See the most up-to-date list of exposure sites at: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites

State stats

Across the state, there are currently 19,000 primary close contacts and 8500 secondary close contacts in isolation.

Of the 26 newly recorded cases on Thursday, 24 were quarantined for their entire infectious period.

Health Minister Martin Foley said it was pleasing to see most cases were not out in the community while infectious.

On Tuesday this week, only six per cent of new cases were fully isolated for the entire infectious period.

By Thursday, that figure had jumped to 92 per cent.

He said the increasing rate indicated the current lockdown, testing regime and contact tracing was working.

Mr Foley reminded all those in isolation they were still required to get a test on day 13 of the 14-day isolation period.

“You can only leave isolation once you have been cleared by the department,” he said.

On Wednesday, 436 primary close contact home visits were conducted across the state.

“Almost all were in isolation, had been tested and were doing the right thing,” the Minister said.

During the week, members of the ADF visited homes across Phillip Island to check people were meeting their isolation requirements.

Get tested

If you are experiencing even the mildest Covid symptoms, visited a Tier1 or 2 exposure site and have not yet been tested, or have received the latest text from DHHS, please get tested as soon as possible.

There are three testing sites currently operating and Bass Coast Health advise wait times are minimal.

• Cowes Drive Through at the Transit Centre: 9am - 5pm
• Wonthaggi Drive Through at Wonthaggi Hospital: 9am - 5pm
• Cowes Walk-in site, now located to the Phillip Island Leisure Centre in Church Street: 8am - 6pm

Updates on site opening and wait times are regularly posted on BCH's Facebook page.

A drive through site is also operating at Leongatha Hospital and Wonthaggi Medical Group Respiratory Clinic is doing tests by appointment.

The sites at Bass and San Remo are currently not operating.

Need more information?

To find out what to do if you are a close contact, visit www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/what-do-if-you-are-close-contact

For details of wastewater testing, go to: www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/wastewater-testing-covid-19

See the most up-to-date list of exposure sites at: www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites