A covid conga

GETTING THE ALL CLEAR...Hundreds of cars lined up at the Shepparton Showgrounds on Thurdsday to get their 13-day Covid test and release from quarantine. Photo:Steve Hutcheson

As we get to the end of a trying time dealing with lockdowns and so many people in the district being required to isolate, for thousands of people, getting their 13-day test to clear them has been trying.

Hundreds of cars were lined up at any one of the several testing points looking to get tested and the results coming back are positive.

Currently (as at September 6, at 12.00pm) there are 108 active cases in the community with the number currently still isolated well down from 20,000 to 1600 with thousand receiving notices from the Department of Health and Human Services each day.

Vaccination figures provided by the Federal Department of Health for Shepparton region that include those vaccinated by GV Health and through other avenues such as doctors and pharmacists, indicate that 72,822 people (67 percent of those eligible) have received their first dose and 42,839 (39.4 percent) have received two doses.

In addition to the number of sites established to administer the vaccine, GV Health have engaged ‘Jabba the Bus’, a mobile vaccination centre to go to those areas where people are having difficulty to get to a vaccination centre. Commencing this week, Jabba the Bus will travel the areas of Greater Shepparton City CouncilMoira Shire CouncilBenalla Rural City CouncilStrathbogie Shire CouncilMitchell Shire CouncilMansfield Shire CouncilMurrindindi Shire Council and Campaspe Shire Council to deliver Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations.

As Matt Sharp, CEO for GV Health said, the figures are trending down but COVID-19 is still active in the community and anyone with the mildest symptoms of COVID-19 should get tested immediately.

Haven’t had your COVID – 19 vaccine yet?
There are plenty of appointments available across Greater Shepparton for both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines. To make a booking, call 1800 675 398 between 8am and 8pm or visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccine. The vaccination Hub is located at the McIntosh Centre at the Shepparton Showgrounds as well as several doctors clinics and pharmacists, both providing COVID vaccinations.

GETTING THE ALL CLEAR…Hundreds of cars lined up at the Shepparton Showgrounds on Thurdsday to get their 13-day Covid test and release from quarantine. Photo:Steve Hutcheson