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Spike in Bass Coast COVID-19 cases

THERE has been a major spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Bass Coast on Wednesday, January 5.

by Michael Giles

Published January 05, 2022

THERE has been a major spike in the number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Bass Coast on Wednesday, January 5.

The Health Department has notified of 106 new cases in Bass Coast, one of the biggest daily increases in regional Victoria, bringing to 250 as the number of active cases in the local government area.

But, anecdotally at least, the number of new and active cases in Bass Coast, and in South Gippsland as well for that matter, where 64 new cases were reported today, is likely to be much higher.

By comparison, only Ballarat 195 new cases, and the urban fringe LGAs of Yarra Ranges 177 and Cardinia 155 had more new cases than Bass Coast.

The official Health Department figures don’t take into account the number of people testing positive while on holidays in the area, or those, several hundred, who have either been turned away from the Wonthaggi testing centre, or who are simply isolating at home.

And, as a result of the suspension of services by several private pathology testing sites, there may be a lag in the reporting of further positive cases.

A local business operator, who has himself contracted the virus along with two other family members, said he believed the official numbers were "the tip of the iceberg".

"From the number of people you know who have it now, or who are household contacts, you can see it's absolutely rife in the local community and among those visiting the area."

By 6am this morning, cars waiting at the Wonthaggi drive-through testing centre were reportedly “double-looped” around the old McBride Avenue Senior Campus site with the centre effectively closed to new arrivals by 7am, it’s advertised opening time.

As well, as an indicator of the number of people who have contracted the virus at Christmas and New Year’s Eve events, an increasing number of hospitality venues in Bass Coast, are advising patrons that they have been visited by COVID-positive clients and will be closing for a few days as a precaution.

Others have been hit by staff shortages as a result of contracting the virus or being a household contact.

'Confusion' about testing

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child notified the community this morning that the Wonthaggi testing centre had closed early “before 9am”.

She said many people attending for PCR tests were confused about their responsibilities.

“We’ve walked along the line to move people along who don’t really need to be there,” Ms Child said.

The latest advice from the Victorian Health Department, Tuesday, January 4 is that “only people with COVID-19 symptoms and people who have tested positive on a Rapid Antigen Test should be getting a PCR test currently”.

“Asymptomatic people in the community who want to check if they have COVID-19 should not get a PCR test. They should opt for Rapid Antigen Tests, and if they are currently unavailable, should continue to monitor for symptoms and stay COVIDSafe.

“In addition, people who are required to use Rapid Antigen Tests (e.g., asymptomatic household contacts but cannot access a Rapid Antigen Test can get a PCR.”

BCH CEO Jan Child said the Wonthaggi drive-through testing centre would continue to open at 7am daily, for the remainder of the week, provided staff were available but she urged those seeking a PCR test to check the criteria and to be “patient and kind” with staff.

“As well as being busy at the testing centre, we have also had to close off the walk-up option at our vaccination centre in the Wonthaggi Town Hall.”

Ms Child said it was clear Wonthaggi was catering to holidaymakers as well as Bass Coast residents at testing and vaccination centres.

Gippsland COVID-19 cases

There are officially 976 active cases of COVID-19 across Gippsland’s six LGAs, likely to be many times that number, with an additional 382 new cases reported on Wednesday, January 5.

They are distributed as follows: