Wimmera Health Care Group is "as ready as it can be" for a COVID-19 epidemic in the community, as construction starts on additional amenities at its facilities in Horsham.
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The works come as the group's COVID-19 clinic in Horsham recorded its second positive case of the coronavirus.
Both people were sent home to self-isolate.
A Wimmera Health Care Group spokesman said the organisation was building safe spaces at Wimmera Base Hospital where people could go as cases of coronavirus increased in the region.
"There are lots of builders in the car park right now," he said.
"We are looking at installing portable showers for the nurses because they will be wanting to shower before they go home to their families."
The spokesman said while testing numbers had eased a bit, the majority of people presenting to the COVID-19 clinic were being swabbed.
On Monday he said the clinic had carried out about 20 to 25 assessments daily, with only 10 meeting the criteria for a swab test.
The spokesman also said it was important that even if people returned a negative test result for COVID-19 they should still self-isolate for 14 days.
"Apparently we had someone get tested and then three days after when their test returned a negative result they just went back out into the community," he said.
Acting director of medical services John Christie said significant planning and preparation ahead of a possible increase in cases in the region included additional education and training, and looking at the availability of resources.
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"We've also looked at implementing an actual epidemic plan and taking aspects of that," he said.
"We've also employed additional staff and we've called for support workers, particularly health professionals who have left the industry not that long ago so we can bring them back in."
Following a recruitment call out for support staff last week, WHCG issued a request for retired or ex-nurses to assist their nursing team.
Health care group staff have also been given the right to call someone out if they were too close.
"People are getting much better at distancing now," clinical improvement, risk and innovation director Sally Taylor said.
"We have limited the number of team members working in tight spaces and sent many home to work from there."
Dr Christie said self-isolation was "absolutely critical" to breaking the transmission risk of the virus.
"Anyone who is not self-isolating, who can self-isolate is setting themselves up for either themselves or others to get this disease or indeed to bring it home to their near and dear," he said.
He said if people who were self-isolating felt unwell they should ring the coronavirus hotline 1800 675 398 or their GP.
The COVID-19 clinic is open for testing from noon until 6pm daily.
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