GEELONG’S WORST DAY YET WITH 21 NEW CASES

Barwon Health to open beds after worst day yet

GREATER Geelong has recorded its highest daily increase in coronavirus cases since the pandemic began, as Barwon Health looks to boost capacity to care for COVID-19 patients.

Twenty-one new cases were reported for Greater Geelong, which had 150 active cases, on Friday.

There were 10 coronavirus inpatients at Geelong hospital, with one in intensive care.

Barwon Health has flagged adding extra capacity to care for coronavirus patients, which could involve opening beds at the former Geelong Private Hospital site.

Five more cases have been connected to the Golden Farms chicken processing plant in Breakwater.

The Department of Health and Human Services now links 36 cases with the outbreak.

The number of residents and staff from Opal South Valley aged care home in Highton who have tested positive remained steady at 25 and seven respectively.

Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said most cases in the region still related to significant outbreaks, pointing to clusters arising from Opal South Valley, Golden

Farms and the Australian Lamb Company in Colac.

“But there are some increasing numbers of just households in the community who have confirmed cases,” Ms Diver said.

“We have plenty of capacity available in the hospital, plenty of PPE, and we’re looking towards opening some additional capacity in the coming weeks.”

Barwon Health could open up beds at the former Geelong Private Hospital site, now known as University Hospital Geelong Building B.

The state government revealed in March it would recommission the site to prepare for the pandemic.

The building underwent a rapid renovation to provide a new acute respiratory assessment clinic with 50 new beds and consulting rooms.

The clinic closed after cases steadied in the region, but the site could be used now Geelong is experiencing a surge.

Ms Diver said there was a “tough time ahead” as Geelong readjusted to stage three restrictions.

“It’s going to be an intense period over the coming weeks,” she said.

Ms Diver implored residents to comply with the Stage 3 restrictions.

One new coronavirus case was reported for Golden Plains, which had 13 active cases, on Friday.

No new cases were reported for Colac-Otway, the Surf Coast or the Borough of Queenscliffe.

Those municipalities had 92, six and one active case respectively.

Statewide, 450 new coronavirus cases and 11 more deaths were reported.

The fatalities brought Victoria’s death toll to 181.

Meanwhile, Sacred Heart College told families on Friday that eight students who were identified as close contacts of a pupil diagnosed with coronavirus had been tested.

“Five were symptomatic, two have returned negative results and six are still awaiting their results,” a letter to families said.

Sacred Heart College on Friday told families 110 students and 13 staff had been identified as close contacts and were required to complete 14day self-isolation.

Three parents from the school had tested positive.

Sacred Heart closed on Monday after the positive test was returned.