STAFF at testing centres at Rosebud and Seaford have returned the highest number of positive COVID-19 test results “since the start of the pandemic”.
Dr Sally Shaw said tests at the centres recorded 11 positive cases of the virus over the past two weeks – including five on Wednesday and four on Thursday.
She said no sites on the Mornington Peninsula had been added to the state government’s COVID-19 exposure site website website since 10 September, which meant possibly hundreds of exposure sites were not being listed.
“We have been fairly sheltered so far on the peninsula and have all worked very hard to keep our area COVID-19 free,” she said.
“Unfortunately, it has all caught up with us and, in the past week, we have had more positive results than in the first year of the pandemic – even though we are all so sick of it.
“Now is the time to be vigilant.”
Dr Shaw said peninsula residents needed to step up and get tested.
“We never have a queue,” she said.
“When people do come to get tested because they feel unwell the symptoms are often a week old and they could have spread the virus anywhere.”
Dr Shaw said positive cases had been linked to the BP service station on Peninsula Link, Baxter, before arriving at Flinders, Rosebud and Boneo. This correlated with concerns that visitors were flocking to the peninsula in spite of the Chief Health Officer’s regulations banning travel of more than 10 kilometres (“COVID driving down to the peninsula” The News 13/9/21).
“Anyone who walked into the BP [service station] and touched the counter in the next hour or so can take that contamination and spread it to their families, colleagues or friends,” Dr Shaw said.
“The Delta strain is more infectious than measles and the main symptom seems to be headache and tiredness. Anyone with these symptoms or any respiratory issues should get a COVID-19 test.”
Dr Shaw said she had tested positive cases “who were quite well but just had symptoms of hay fever, such as sneezing, runny eyes or a dry throat”.
“By identifying people who are positive and keeping them isolated we will save hundreds of people from getting COVID-19,” she said.
Even patients who were double vaccinated could find the symptoms of COVID-19 “quite debilitating and take months to get over”.
“On top of this it will really impact your social life and your work life, so there are very good reasons to avoid the spread.”
Peninsula Vaccination Centres are at 1391 Point Nepean Arcade, Rosebud and 266-270 Seaford Road, Seaford. Book online or call 0436 033 507.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 28 September 2021
