‘WE ARE AT RISK’
Top Geelong medico warns next fortnight crucial, says be vigilant or face long lockdown Mask sales surge Case at country footy club
BARWON Health’s infectious diseases boss has warned a failure to slow or stabilise local coronavirus cases over the next fortnight would put Geelong at risk of an extended lockdown.
“As much as this second wave of COVID-19 can feel like a bigger problem for Melbourne, here in Geelong we are at risk of facing increasing case numbers over coming weeks if people are not vigilant,” Professor
Eugene Athan said.
A GEELONG private hospital is ramping up its provision of masks as residents rush to buy face coverings amid a COVID-19 second wave in Victoria.
The state government last week recommended adults in locked down Melbourne wear masks in places where it could be difficult to maintain social distancing.
A number of Geelong shoppers were spotted donning masks in the city at the weekend.
Bull and Owen Pharmacy in the Geelong CBD and Priceline Pharmacy Waurn Ponds both reported a massive increase in demand for masks during the increase in Geelong cases and the lockdown of metro Melbourne last week.
Community Care Chemist chief operations officer Nick Salkeld said its local pharmacies had seen an increasing number of requests for face masks in the past week, more so since Friday’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) advice that those in outbreak areas wear masks when social distancing could not be assured.
Mr Salkeld said masks remained “available and supplies consistent”, but said social distancing and good hand hygiene remained “paramount regardless of the use of masks”.
St John of God Hospital Geelong has now extended the use of surgical masks.
“St John of God Geelong Hospital has been strictly adhering to the DHHS guidelines for use of surgical masks in regional healthcare settings, however given the rapidly evolving nature of the COVID challenge, we have elected to extend the use and availability of surgical masks to all staff in a clinical setting immediately,” CEO Stephen Roberts said on Friday.
“From Monday, visitors to the hospital will also be issued a surgical mask upon entry at our screening kiosk.”
Mr Roberts said the hospital would “continue to closely monitor and evaluate the necessity for a further expansion of surgical mask availability on a daily basis”.
“The hospital is maintaining a vigilant approach to social distancing and hand hygiene as the safety of our staff, patients and visitors is our No. 1 priority,” he said.
Barwon Health on Friday said it was following the directives of the Chief Health Officer and had been instructed to maintain current guidelines for staff on the use of personal protective equipment.
“Geelong is not covered by the new restrictions imposed in Melbourne due to the relatively low number of local cases,” Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said.
“This situation is evolving and we review the guidelines daily; we are well positioned to respond should the directive change.”
Epworth Geelong executive general manager Luke Edwards said Epworth Geelong had been proactive in supplying masks to staff, doctors and patients.