Cases by region: Mornington Peninsula not out of the woods as data reveals region remains in top 10 worst hit regions for COVID-19
Coronavirus cases on the Mornington Peninsula have continued to steady over the Easter break. But residents are still being urged to dob in those not following social distancing guidelines.
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Mornington Peninsula residents are being encouraged to phone the police if they see people flouting coronavirus restrictions.
The latest Victorian Department of Health and Human Services data revealed 55 people on the Mornington Peninsula have tested positive to the virus. There has been no increase in five days.
The revelation comes as the state rises to 1291 – an increase of 10 since Monday, and the state government’s tracker shows there are now 122 cases of community transmission.
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Flinders MP and Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said there were no excuses or exceptions for those not following self-isolation rules.
“The medical advice is clear, those who have returned from overseas or who have received a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, as well as those living in the same premises, must self-isolate for 14 days,” Mr Hunt said.
“There is no excuse, there is no exception.
The vast majority of Australians are abiding by these restrictions, however there is a small minority, be it innocently or maliciously, who are not following this advice.”
Mr Hunt’s office told Leader that if residents believed an individual was not following the advice, they could report their concerns to Victoria Police through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444.
Frankston Hospital is the only testing centre for those living on the Mornington Peninsula.
The next closest testing centres are at Casey Hospital, Dandenong Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, Clayton.
Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos on Friday said there were 29 screening and assessment clinics across Melbourne and regional Victoria and the state’s “ world class hospitals stand ready to establish more as required”.
“We’re working closely with the Commonwealth Government to ensure GPs are also supported in providing advice and screening to potential COVID-19 patients,” Ms Mikakos said.
The federal government has announced it will fund 100 pop-up clinics in areas in need across the country to free up hospitals to treat patients.
The pops ups will be rolled out through primary health networks.
Peninsula Health would not be drawn on the level of local demand for testing nor any plans to establish pop ups at its sites.
Chief executive Felicity Topp said staff were “well-informed and prepared to appropriately manage and treat any confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19”.
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“Peninsula Health has undertaken detailed planning in response to COVID-19 and has a
number of protocols in place which will be activated if necessary as this situation continues
to evolve,” she said.
“Our advice to our community is to stay home and practise social distancing to help stop the
spread of the virus.”
New rules for visitors have been rolled out across all Peninsula Health sites.
They include bans on anyone under 16 years old and people who have returned from overseas in the past 14 days.
Visitors are limited to one per patient at any one time and visiting hours are now 4pm-8pm.
People collecting patients are asked to wait outside.