A COVID-19 exposure site has been confirmed in Stawell on Friday morning as health authorities try to keep on top of Victoria's outbreak.
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Despite not being listed on the Department of Health website, a spokesperson from Stawell Regional Health confirmed parts of the facility have been classified as a COVID-19 exposure site.
Stawell Regional Health confirmed they have a clinical team member who has tested positive to COVID-19.
As a result Stawell Regional Health have:
- closed radiology
- commenced a deep clean of radiology department
- contacted and organised testing for all staff who may have come into contact with the positive case
- commenced contact tracing to identify any other at risk staff.
Stawell Regional Health said they are not aware of any other exposure sites in Stawell, but contact tracing is still taking place.
For anyone who received an ultrasound on Monday, September 27, Tuesday, September 28, and Wednesday, September 29 they will be required to test and isolate for 14 days.
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The ultrasound area of the hospital is a tier one COVID exposure sites on those dates.
The radiology department of Stawell Regional Health is classified as a tier two exposure site.
Therefore, if a community member attended the radiology department during these dates, but did not have an ultrasound they need to get a test and stay home until they get a negative result.
The Stawell Regional Health spokesperson said due to the PPE and zoning of the hospital, other areas of the facility are not impacted by this case.
"Radiology is a self-contained unit and because of the way we manage our zoning and PPE the risk around the rest of the hospital is extremely low and the other services will be continuing," they said.
Anyone who has symptoms is encouraged to get tested with Stawell Regional Health.
If you are feeling unwell - with signs and symptoms of a cold or flu - or have received a request to have a COVID 19 test, call the Respiratory Assessment Clinic on 03 5358 8630 to make your appointment.
You will be given instructions on where and when to go to get your test.
Stawell Regional Health is working with the Grampians Public Health Unit to help identify community contacts and advise of other requirements.
On the Department of Health website there are no active cases listed in the Stawell postcode (3380).
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Stawell Regional Health are also working with the Northern Grampians Shire Council to establish an off-site testing clinic to assist with increased need for testing in the community.
More details about the off-site testing clinic will be released as it is set-up.
The Stawell Bi-Rite electrical goods store in Main Street, Stawell, has confirmed they are temporarily closed due to COVID reasons, but they are not an exposure site.
Stawell Bi-Rite owner Brett Crouch said he was notified that someone who has visited an exposure site visited the Stawell Bi-Rite recently.
Out of an abundance of caution, Mr Crouch has closed the store temporarily while staff get tested.
The person who visited the store has not received their COVID test result and Stawell Bi-Rite has not been contacted by health authorities.
More to come.
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