COVID testing over Christmas and New Year

THE number of new and active cases of COVID-19 in Gippsland may be relatively low, but they’re not going away either.

On November 30, the Victorian Health Department reported there were 316 active cases across Gippsland’s six Local Government Areas (LGAs) while the Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU)reported they had 238 cases under their management.

As of Tuesday, December 14, the Health Department is reporting 286 active cases in Gippsland and GRPHU 261 active cases.

So, the battle goes on and that means making testing available over the Christmas-New Year period.

But there have been adjustments.

Here’s how our local testing facilities will operate before Christmas:

South Gippsland

There are currently 25 active COVID-19 cases in South Gippsland being managed by the GRPHU.

Testing opportunities in South Gippsland include;

• Leongatha – Gippsland Southern Heath Service, drive through. 9am – 2.30pm Mondays and Thursdays by appointment, for bookings call 5654 2777.
• Foster Respiratory Clinic, 9am – 12.30pm weekdays. By appointment, for bookings go to https://bit.ly/3Fbd8eH

Bass Coast

There are currently 27 active COVID-19 cases in Bass Coast being managed by the GRPHU.

Testing opportunities in Bass Coast include;

• Cowes – Bass Coast Health, drive through. 9am – 2pm seven days a week. Pre-fill your details using the Testing Registration form https://testtracker.covid19.dhhs.vic.gov.au/citizen-prefill
• Wonthaggi – Bass Coast Health, drive through. 9am – 5pm seven days a week. Pre-fill your details using the Testing Registration form https://testtracker.covid19.dhhs.vic.gov.au/citizen-prefill
• Wonthaggi Respiratory Clinic, 1pm – 3.30pm weekdays and 9am – 11.30am Saturdays, by appointment at https://bit.ly/3Fbd8eH

Less testing over the holidays

• South Gippsland: The Gippsland Southern Health Unit testing centre at Leongatha will be closed from Friday, December 24 to Wednesday, December 29 (with the exception of Monday, December 27 9am-3pm). Leongatha will be open on Thursday, December 30 (9am-2pm) but closed on December 31, January 1 and 2 (now open on January 3 9am-3pm). The Foster Respiratory Clinic will be open every morning except Christmas Day and January 1, 2, and 3.
• Bass Coast: The Wonthaggi Bass Coast Health drive-through testing centre will be open every day except Christmas Day and New Years Day. Cowes drive-through will be open every day expect Christmas Day, Boxing Day, December 27 and New Years Day. Wonthaggi Respiratory Clinic will be open on Wednesday, December 29, Thursday, December 30 but they will be closed on all other days; December 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 & 31 and January 1, 2, 3.

COVID-19 update December 14

There were 1189 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Victoria on Tuesday, December 14, from 54,467 test results, for a state-wide active total of 11,051. Sadly, there were 6 more deaths.

Total active cases in Gippsland being managed by the GRPHU is 261 (Bass Coast 27, Baw Baw 115, East Gippsland 14, Latrobe 58, South Gippsland 25 and Wellington 22.

The GRPHU is currently managing 261 positive COVID cases throughout Gippsland.

There are five people in hospital. Two of those are in ICU.

Health Department data puts the number of active cases in Gippsland at 286: Bass Coast 42 active/6 new, Baw Baw 122/12, Latrobe 59/5, East Gippsland down to 16/0, South Gippsland 26/2 and Wellington 21/2.

Nearby, Casey LGA has 671 active cases and 66 new cases, the second-highest among LGAs, while Greater Dandenong is in the top 10 with 339 active cases and 41 new. Cardinia LGA is coming down with 181 active cases, 22 new.