Two more Covid deaths at Geelong hospital as Newtown Primary School students test positive

Newtown Primary School had been listed as an exposure site after two children tested positive for Covid this week. Geelong recorded 16 new cases on Thursday.

Newtown Primary School had been listed as an exposure site after two children tested positive.

It is listed as an exposure site between October 4 and 6.

“Our contract tracing team are working closely with the school to support staff and students,” Ms Bibby said.

“We are also working with both the school and the education department to determine the levels affected and when services can resume.”

Newtown Primary School

Ms Bibby said Barwon Health had become aware of “a number” of additional exposure sites.

“These are all under investigation,” she said.

KFC Ocean Grove was listed as a tier one site for staff and tier two for customers on October 2 between 11.25am and 4.30pm.

GREATER GEELONG RECORDS 16 COVID CASES, SURF COAST ONE

Greater Geelong has recorded 16 new Covid cases, while another death occurred at Geelong hospital.

Barwon Health spokeswoman Kate Bibby said a number of the new Geelong cases announced on Thursday were known contacts of confirmed cases and had been isolating.

“Currently unlinked cases continue to be investigated by the public health unit,” she said.

The Surf Coast recorded one new case.

A Covid patient at Geelong hospital died overnight Wednesday, and another died on Thursday.

Ms Bibby said the two deaths would be included in figures announced by health authorities on Friday.

It followed another death in a Covid patient at Geelong hospital earlier this week.

Prior to the three deaths this week, Geelong hospital had not recorded a Covid patient death this year.

As of 9am Thursday there were 29 patients in Geelong hospital with Covid-19, seven of whom were in ICU.

“In keeping with our role as a Covid streaming hospital the inpatients come from Geelong and across the state,” Ms Bibby said.

Victoria reported 1638 new locally acquired Covid cases on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the state government announced it was investing a further $5m to boost vaccination rates among people living with a disability.

Disability Minister Luke Donnellan said the government was launching 10 dedicated disability vaccination ‘pop-ups’ in areas of concern, and expanding Victoria’s successful disability liaison service.

From Friday, all of Victoria’s state-run vaccination centres, including Barwon Health’s hub at the former Ford site in Norlane, will support people with disabilities to get vaccinated at any time without a booking.

Originally published as Two more Covid deaths at Geelong hospital as Newtown Primary School students test positive