Update: Statement from Department of Health and Human Services
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"We're working hard to source swabs and testing kits but there is currently a significant global shortage of swabs and reagent test kits for COVID-19 testing.
"We are urging clinicians to only use one swab and to limit testing to high-risk patients, and those who meet the case definition under the national guidelines which includes healthcare workers.
"In order to be tested, a person must be critically ill. If they have signs of the virus and have recently travelled overseas or had close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 they should also be tested.
"Healthcare workers with direct patient contact, residential care workers or aged care residents must have a fever and shortness of breath or cough or sore throat to be tested."
Earlier: The likelihood of anyone from the Wimmera having coronavirus at this stage is extremely minimal, according to Wimmera Health Care Group.
WHCG acting director of Medical Services Dr John Christie said there had been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Wimmera yet but the best way to prevent the spread of infection was to take sensible precautions.
"We have tested a handful of concerned community members but all results have been negative," he said.
"The Department of Health criteria around eligibility for testing has changed to ensure we are not wasting swab kits on people who are highly unlikely to have the virus.
"Unless you have been overseas or had more than 15 minutes of close contact with a confirmed case, you are most unlikely to have coronavirus."
Dr Christie said any people who were concerned they may have coronavirus should contact the hotline on 1800 675 398.
COVID-19 symptoms include fever, shortness of breath, coughing, muscle pain and fatigue.
"If you need medical advice, phone your doctor or medical centre but do not turn up on the door step and risk the spread of infection," he said.
"If your doctor is not available, phone your nearest urgent care or emergency department but again, do not attend in person."
A WHCG spokesman said Wimmera Base Hospital would eventually have a proper testing station set up.
"The virus might not peak until July," he said. "The whole thing is about isolation as much as possible, keeping surfaces clean and proper handwashing."
East Grampians Health Service chief executive Andrew Freeman said staff had carried out four swab tests for COVID-19 at the weekend.
"We're not seeing huge numbers at this time," he said. "The reality will be that some people in our community will contract the virus but we are doing everything we can to mitigate that risk."
Mr Freeman said visitors to the hospital were not restricted at this point in time but the federal government was preparing to release guidelines on visitors to aged care homes.
West Wimmera chief executive officer Ritchie Dodds said the group had six hospitals and aged care homes which generally had an ageing population.
The service had restricted visitor access to aged care facilities and postponed non-essential gatherings of people, across the whole organisation.
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Eliza Berlage
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
Eliza Berlage made the move to Horsham to report for the Wimmera Mail-Times in October 2019. Originally from Sydney, she has a sociology background and spent two years working in the press gallery in Canberra.
