Capel Sound ranked one of the riskiest places in Australia during coronavirus pandemic
A dozen postcodes on Melbourne’s fringe are among the state’s top 20 most vulnerable to a coronavirus flare-up, alarming new data has revealed. Find out how at-risk your suburb is.
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The Mornington Peninsula is the state’s region most at risk from a coronavirus outbreak, an alarming new study has revealed.
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.
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 index identified a series of “red zones” across the country including a large portion of the Mornington Peninsula.
The region is home to the six most vulnerable postcodes in Victoria and had a further six in the top 20 at risk communities.
Capel Sound had a risk rating of 98 – from a possible score of 100 — making it the most vulnerable place in Victoria and among the top 10 in the country.
Portsea and Sorrento tied for second place in the state with a ranking of 95, followed by Rosebud (91), Blairgowrie (89) and McCrae (87).
Also in the top 20 at risk postcodes were Rye (76), Dromana (74) Flinders (72), Somers (71), Balnarring (70, Shoreham (69) and Mornington (68).
The results were “alarming” but not a surprise to the Mornington Peninsula Ratepayers and Residents Association.
President John Cain said the region had already been hit hard by virus outbreaks in the early stages of the pandemic.
“We had the second highest number of cases in the state for at least a week and we stayed in the top five for a long time,” Mr Cain said.
The McCrae resident, 78, said the region was home to pockets of poverty and also had a large population of elderly residents.
“The elderly – and I am one of them – are most at risk from this virus. It makes sense that areas that have a lot of older people would be more vulnerable to outbreaks.”
He called for caution as restrictions started to ease across Australia.
“I’m with Dan (Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews) on this one,” Mr Cain said.
“We need to proceed very carefully with opening things up again. Forget about what’s happening at a federal level or in other states.”
Mornington Peninsula Mayor Sam Hearn said it was no surprise the region had been rated at high risk from COVID-19.
“It appears to be based on socio-economic circumstances, age and susceptibility to illness in general,” he said.
Cr Hearn said the council had recognised the threat early and soon closed community centres, beaches and parks.
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“There’s not a lot we can do to control the easing of restrictions … most of those decisions rest with the state and federal governments,” he said.
Cr Hearn said a “silver lining” in the coronavirus cloud could be the region “finally getting the support it deserved”.
“The Rosebud Hospital is a good example of that,” he said.
“We’ve had funding allocated to do a business case for an upgrade but we need a strong commitment to move beyond that and get on with creating a hospital that can properly service the southern peninsula.”