Prevent predicted Covid surge
Bass Coast Health said the school holidays and Easter are crunch times for reducing the tide of the current Covid surge
Bass Coast Health said the school holidays and Easter are crunch times for reducing the tide of the current Covid surge.
It is calling on Bass Coast residents and visitors to do all they can to minimise the spread of the highly infectious subvariant of COVID-19 these school holidays and Easter long weekend.
Jan Child, the CEO of Bass Coast Health said the BA.2 subvariant is up to 70 per cent more contagious than the original BA.1 Omicron strain, and cases were likely to peak between now and the end of April, as people interact more and an influx of tourists arrive.
However she said everyone can play a part in stopping the spread of the disease, and help to protect vulnerable members of the community.
“Simple measures like wearing a proper fitting mask, staying at home and getting tested if you have symptoms, and avoiding crowded places, can mean the difference between getting Covid or being able to enjoy the school holidays with your family,” she said.
“The most important prevention however, is for everyone to ensure their vaccination status is up-to- date which includes the third dose; If you’re eligible for a fourth winter booster, please get it.”
Those eligible for the winter booster include adults aged 65 years and older, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50, and people aged 16 years and older who are severely immunocompromised.
Ms Child said it was pleasing to see strong booster uptake in the region.
Data from the Department of Health on April 6 showed up to 75 per cent of the eligible population in Cowes had received a third dose, 75 per cent in Wonthaggi, 80 per cent of Inverloch and San Remo, and around 55 per cent in Bass and Coronet Bay.
“It’s also pleasing to see a slight increase in vaccination among 5-11-year-olds in the Bass Coast Shire but many areas are still too low,” Ms Child said.
Department of Health figures showed that second dose vaccination rates across the shire were between 15 – 45 per cent, with San Remo recording the highest second dose percentage.
“Whilst we are all over the pandemic, the pandemic itself is still not over and we must keep trying to prevent hospitalisations and death. Too many people die every day from Covid and many are preventable through vaccination. If you do one thing these holidays, please, get vaccinated.”
