Department responsible for tracing

Wimmera Health Care Group has stressed that it treats information about individual patients undergoing testing for COVID-19 in Horsham as ‘totally’ confidential.

With Horsham active cases for the virus sitting at four late yesterday, acting medical services director Dr John Gallichio said the Department of Health and Human Services was responsible for contact tracing involving individuals who tested positive to the disease.

He made the announcement in response to a persistent community call for more information about the movement history of infected people.

“We do not undertake that at a local level. People who are suspected contacts will be contacted by the health department and given the appropriate instruction for what they should do,” Dr Gallichio said.

“The people who tested positive need to remain home and in isolation for at least two weeks. Prior to the end of that two weeks they should be retested to determine if still infective. If that test is positive, they need a further 10 days in isolation.”

Dr Gallichio said the health group also urged people across the region to wear masks when interacting with others away from their home environments.

“We’re recommending people who are going out to areas where there are gatherings of other people, including supermarkets, to wear masks for their own protection and the protection of others,” he said.

Dr Gallichio’s comments came as the State Government extended a State of Emergency to August 16.

They also followed a plea from Wimmera Health Care Group management for community calm as the health department worked through latest COVID-19 cases in Horsham district.

Growing anxiety

Health group chief executive Catherine Morley said the group understood the growing anxiety in the community.

“But there are rules in place to protect everyone and if people follow the rules, they can feel safe,” she said.

“The increased number of cases in Victoria has placed a heavy burden on hospitals and testing clinics across the state.

“Wimmera Health Care Group is working closely with the Department of Health and Human Services to manage this situation in our region and remain committed to protecting our community.”

Horsham mayor Mark Radford also called for community calm and to follow health directions.

He said the community also needed to trust authorities making decisions on its behalf.

“Our community has been diligent in following the instructions from our health officials and, as the threat comes again, we need to follow those well-rehearsed practices from the past five months,” he said.

“If we calmly follow directions, think of others, help other people where we can and base our conversations around kindness, our community will benefit in many ways and we will get through this.”

Aged care

The increase in COVID-19 cases in western Victoria prompted East Grampians Health Service in Ararat district to temporarily close its acute and aged-care facilities to visitors.

Chief executive Andrew Freeman said the service made the move due to the escalating nature of positive cases.

“On compassionate grounds relatives are allowed into facilities to visit, however, there will be strict requirements around the use of personal protective equipment,” he said.

“We will work with all families who are affected by this decision.”

Mr Freeman also welcomed a joint announcement from federal and state governments to provide additional measures to ensure aged-care services were equipped to minimise risks while continuing to provide quality care.

“Anything that supports the situation at the moment is a positive thing,” he said.

The government move to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 in agedcare service features a raft of support measures.

A key move is to reduce the need for aged-care workers to provide care across multiple aged-care centres.

“In Ararat we have seen a large increase of community testing in the past four weeks,” Mr Freeman said.

“We need to be really vigilant and the community support is fantastic.

“We can’t afford to think COVID-19 is not out there.”

COVIDSAFE app

Wimmera health group infection control nurse Kathryn Summerhayes encouraged the Wimmera community to download the COVIDSAFE app.

“That’s the most useful thing the community members can do right now because it will assist DHHS with contact tracing in a timely manner,” she said.

“The recent increased demand has slowed the contact tracing process significantly and there is currently a three to five-day delay.

“The DHHS is working on a solution and we would appreciate everyone’s patience.”

People can call the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 with any concerns. • West Wimmera Health Service lockdown, page 7.