Coronavirus: Mobile testing, health services increase as Murrumbidgee district’s cases remain stable
As restrictions ease and coronavirus cases remain stable, the Murrumbidgee district is calling on more people to undergo tests to limit the potential for another outbreak.
The Wagga News
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Mobile testing for the coronavirus and the reintroduction of more health services in the Murrumbidgee district have begun this week as cases remain stable.
The number of confirmed cases in the district remain at 45 with 39 people having recovered as of 8am on Wednesday — the 19th day in a row in which no new cases have been diagnosed.
Three cases are active in Albury and one each in Wagga and Berrigan.
There has been one death and 4661 people tested so far.
Greater Hume, Griffith, Hay, Hilltops, Murrumbidgee, Narrandera, Snowy Valleys and Cootamundra-Gundagai now have no current cases of the virus following recoveries.
The district today launched mobile testing in Lockhart and Henty and it will do the same in Narrandera and Coolamon on Thursday.
Testing hours have also been increased with MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford saying stopping the potential for another outbreak can only be done with more testing.
“We want to continue to keep no community transmission going, but at the same time, we can’t afford to be in lockdown for the rest of our lives and we need to think about how we’re going to get back to normal,” Ms Ludford said.
“It’s all about testing, so the message now is if anybody has any kind of respiratory syndrome, it’s super important that those people self isolate immediately.
“We are at risk of having a cluster outbreak and we can all know what happens when you get an outbreak of a couple of people. That can catch on fire and rapidly transmit to our community.
“Our public health response now is the most critical. If there is an outbreak, which is likely, we need to be able to hammer it out with razor sharp public health responses.”
Other health services have also been reintroduced this week, including semi-urgent and non-urgent elective surgery and dental.
“Right through this pandemic we did continue to do 62 per cent of our surgeries,” Ms Ludford said.
She thanked residents for adhering to government directions to combat the pandemic.
“I would not have thought six weeks ago I’d be standing in front of you all today to say we have such incredible results, which is purely down to the actions of the people in this community,” she said.
“Thank you to all the people across our region.”
Ms Ludford also reminded the community about being vigilant and looking after aged-care residents.
Anyone who believes they have may have contracted the COVID-19 virus (i.e. who are returned travellers, or who have come in contact with a confirmed case and are showing symptoms: fever, sore throat, dry cough and shortness of breath) are advised to call the Murrumbidgee COVID-19 Hotline on 1800 831 099 for assessment.
Symptoms will generally appear three to four days after exposure to the virus but can be up to 14 days later. Residents are advised to minimise travel, increase personal awareness around hand hygiene and practice social distancing.
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