Concerns for spread of Covid and Flu outbreak at Warrnambool voting booths

Covid and the flu are running rampant in Warrnambool — but there is a way you can vote on the big day even if you’ve been struck by either bug.

Medical clinics across Warrnambool are being hammered with patients suffering from Covid and the flu, raising concerns thousands of voters will battle to cast their vote on Saturday.

Recent figures published by the Department of Health have reported 91 cases of Covid in Warrnambool in the 24 hours prior to May 19.

There are 590 active Covid cases in Warrnambool.

Middle Island Medical Clinics GP Campbell McKellar said there was a noticeable outbreak of Covid and the flu after the Racing Carnival earlier this month.

“I think probably since the May races there's certainly been an uptick in Covid and in influenza … certainly since then we’ve noticed a difference especially with the flu, it’s really taken off in the last fortnight,” Dr McKellar said.

“General practice is chronically under the pump.

“We’ve had staff off in the last fortnight with Covid. That doesn’t make it easy while dealing with the pandemic and with an influenza outbreak — so it certainly presents some challenges.”

An increase in Covid and influenza in the Warrnambool community is being noticed after the Warrnambool races earlier this month. Picture: Supplied

Dr McKellar said he hoped the community would be able to practise social distancing when voting across Warrnambool on Saturday

“Spending prolonged time indoors with other people without masks on is concerning, I guess, in the setting of doing voting, you know, you‘d hope people are relatively spread apart, and maybe aren’t spending a long time together Dr. McKellar said.

“I’d be more concerned about big gatherings where people are indoors. “Coming into winter as well, generally speaking, viruses spread more during winter because people are more indoors. That’s what we’re going to be finding in these winter months.”

“I think that if people are vulnerable, they’ve got medical conditions, I’d still encourage them to be wearing masks when they go outside, wear masks when you’re going to vote. Keep doing you good hand hygiene. Just do the sensible things.”

The AEC have Covid safety measures implemented at all voting booths across the country.

Safety measures include hygiene officers, regular cleaning of voting centres, venue capacity limits, hand sanitiser and social distancing.

People who are Covid positive and are in isolation on election day can register to vote over the phone.

Registrations to vote over the phone close at 4pm on Saturday May 21.