The Wimmera Healthcare Group has thanked residents for abiding by Victoria's pandemic restrictions, saying "minimal" community transmission has resulted from recent active cases recorded in Horsham.
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On Wednesday, a spokesman said testing at its Read Street clinic suggested there had been no spike in the Horsham Rural City council area following a Melbourne resident that had the virus visiting last week.
"No laws were breached, and (since the new positive) people have been doing the right thing, and we are thankful for that. This is why there has been no spread," he said.
He said there had also been minimal transmission following a St Brigid's College student testing positive for the virus in July.
"(Residents) have done a great job. That could easily have gotten out of hand," he said.
The spokesman urged people who felt unwell to book a test.
"The more people that get tested, the more proof we will have that we are right to open up. The more tests we have, the more evidence we have as to whether (coronavirus) is in the area or not," he said.
Across last week, an average of 20 people were tested at the Horsham clinic, dropping to an average of ten on the weekend.
A Stawell Regional Health respiratory assessment clinic spokeswoman said daily testing numbers remained steady, without providing a figure.
"The interesting factor we are seeing is that the number of people coming for testing with mild symptoms has dropped significantly," she said.
"At the moment, most of the people coming for testing are going for pre-op screening before medical appointments they have to go to, either allied health or medical appointments.
"We are putting that down to the fact people have been in lockdown doing the right thing, protecting each other, so we're not seeing people with sniffles and respiratory symptoms.
"If the roadmap makes life open up again, we may see an increase (in people presenting)."
The spokeswoman said the clinic remained open for testing to anyone with symptoms, however mild.
"If you have mild symptoms, you will be assessed and probably do a drive-through test. If you present with more acute medical symptoms, you will be scheduled to see a doctor," she said.
The Mail-Times has contacted the East Grampians Health Service for comment.
To book a test:
- Horsham: www.hotdoc.com (Search Horsham Respiratory Clinic)
- Stawell: 5358 8630
- Ararat: 5352 9321