Yarra Junction, Healesville and Warburton rate high on coronavirus susceptibility index
Several outer eastern suburbs — including Healesville and Yarra Junction — are among Melbourne’s most vulnerable to coronavirus based on factors such as age and chronic health conditions. Find out the risk where you live.
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Yarra Junction and Healesville are in the top 20 Melbourne communities predicted to be the worst affected during a coronavirus outbreak, new research reveals.
The data released by consulting group Finity and the University of New South Wales comes as Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews today announced his cautious plan for easing lockdown restrictions.
The COVID-19 Susceptibility Index: gives suburbs a score between one and 100 and rates each area higher according to how vulnerable residents are to the virus, taking into account age, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and lung disease.
Presently, Yarra Ranges and Knox each have one live case and Maroondah has two.
So far the Yarra Ranges has recorded 22 cases, while Knox and Maroondah had 13 each.
Melbourne and Sydney are predicted to be the cities hardest hit.
Yarra Junction has the highest rating in the Yarra Ranges at 68, Healesville is at 64, Warburton is 59, Yarra Glen is 56 and Kilsyth is 53.
In Knox the highest suburbs are Boronia at 47, Wantirna South at 34 and Bayswater at 33.
While Maroondah has Ringwood East at 37, Croydon at 37, and Ringwood at 30.
Finity lead researcher Aaron Cutter said the index would help government policy decisions for kickstarting the economy.
“When a vaccine becomes available, the index could be used to prioritise those more vulnerable communities,” Mr Cutter said.
“We want to put as much relevant info in front of the policy makers as we can.”
The index shows overwhelmingly that COVID-19 will “impact unevenly” across different suburbs, Mr Cutter said.
“The vulnerable population segments are generally situated away from capital cities,” he said.
“While the initial wave of COVID-19 cases was concentrated around capital cities due to population density plus proximity to cruise ships and international airports, these areas consist of lower proportions of highly susceptible individuals compared to the rest of Australia.”
Yarra Ranges
Yarra Junction – 68
Healesville – 64
Warburton – 59
Yarra Glen – 56
Kilsyth – 53
Mount Dandenong – 46
Silvan – 46
Lilydale – 39
Monbulk – 39
Sherbrooke – 39
Chirnside Park – 37
Wandin North – 37
Montrose – 36
Coldstream – 32
Mooroolbark – 28
Ferny Creek – 24
Olinda – 24
Kallista – 22
Belgrave – 15
Sassafras – 11
Selby – 10
Upwey – 10
Knox
Boronia – 47
Wantirna South – 34
Bayswater – 33
Ferntree Gully – 33
Knoxfield – 31
The Basin – 19
Scoresby – 12
Rowville – 8
Maroondah
Ringwood East – 37
Croydon – 37
Ringwood – 30