Day 12 sees a new total of 112 active cases…and counting

Updated: 5.00pm Wednesday 1^st September 2021

The word from Goulburn Valley Health chief executive Matt Sharp’s latest press conference today is that there are now 112 active COVID cases in Shepparton and more than 95 exposure sites.

He said new exposure sites are continuing to be identified and subsequently listed and that as a result, the number of 112 active cases will grow.

With around 4000 people required to be tested tomorrow, Mr Sharp said it’s going to be a huge testing event. This is due to the fact that a large number of schools are reaching the day 13 milestone which are: St Mel’s Primary, Bourchier St Primary, Notre Dame College and Greater Shepparton Secondary College’s McGuire and Wanganui campuses.

And on the subject of tomorrow’s Day 13 testing, Mr Sharp noted that regarding primary close contacts, often just the students are required to test so please keep this in mind as it will vastly reduce the numbers of people needing to get tested.

Good luck to the approximately 4,000 people being tested tomorrow.

Please remember, that to help to reduce your own risk of being hospitalised with this disease, get vaccinated.

Please also keep following all the Covid safety rules and look after each other!

Updated 5:00pm Monday 30^th August 2021

Shepparton is now up to 100 active cases. This figure will no doubt continue to grow with some people still having not come forward to get tested who visited Sky Salon in Shepparton, a Tier 1 exposure site. It is hoped these people will get tested as soon as possible.

Family Care Pharmacy in the Safeway Plaza has been added to the list of Tier 2 exposure sites. If you were there between 11am and 12 noon last Thursday 26^th August then you are required to get tested urgently and isolate until you receive a negative result.

Here’s some very handy information, updates and links from GV Health:

• Please note that testing is NOT available at the Vaccination Hub at the McIntosh Centre Shepparton Showgrounds.
• To save you time at the testing clinic, you can now register for a COVID-19 test online. To register, simply complete the online form at: https://testtracker.covid19.dhhs.vic.gov.au/citizen-prefill Then present your unique registration code when you arrive at the testing site.
• Testing is available in other locations in the region and details can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19

Information Regarding Exposure Sites

• Updated exposure sites are being published as more information becomes available and can be accessed at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-site Scroll to the table section as this has more detailed information than the map. 

COVID-19 Information 

• Information regarding advice for primary and secondary close contacts, vaccination as well as support available can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/ or by calling the Department of Health hotline on 1800 675 398. Please use these sources as your first point of contact.

A big shout-out and massive thanks to the amazing team at GV Health for achieving 21,000 tests in Shepparton in the last 11 days since the outbreak started, this is outstanding!

Getting tested:

Waiting times for COVID-19 testing across all sites in Shepparton and Mooroopna at present is minimal and in the order of a ½ hour at the most. 

Please refer to details below regarding opening times for testing sites being coordinated by GV Health:

• The Acute Respiratory Clinic at GV Health, Graham Street Shepparton. Open from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

• Drive through testing at Shepparton Sports Precinct, corner of Numurkah Road and Brauman Street Shepparton. Open from 8:30am to 5:00pm.

• Drive through testing at Shepparton Greyhound and Trotting Track, 7580 Goulburn Valley Hwy, Kialla. Open from 8:30am to 2:00pm.

• Drive through testing at Shepparton Showgrounds Multipurpose Pavilion, enter from Fryers Street extension (best accessed from Archer Road). Open from 8:00am to 5:00pm.

• Drive through testing at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve, enter from Midland Hwy Mooroopna. Open from 8:00am to 8:00pm.

Updated 28 August 2021 at 10.30am

Shepparton now has 74 active cases of COVID-19 as reported on the government website.

The list of exposure sites now includes:

– Greater Shepparton Secondary College – Mooroopna & Wanganui campuses

– Bourchier Street Primary School

– Mooroopna Primary School

For a complete list of all the Tier 1 and Tier 2 exposure sites, refer to the government website at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-site#exposure-site-table

Testing is available at multiple locations across the region and details can be found at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/where-get-tested-covid-19.

Updated: 1:00 pm Friday 27th August.

With 10 more cases overnight, this takes us up to 79 active cases in the wider Shepparton area. Over 17,000 tests have been carried out and processed with three quarters of 6000 primary close contacts having returned negative test results. These people are continuing with their isolation at home.

Shepparton, as is the rest of the state, is in lockdown and will stay that way until Thursday, September 2.
More than 100 locations around Shepparton have been declared Tier 1 and Tier 2 sites and people who visited these locations at the designated times are required to get tested. People visiting Tier 1 sites during the indicated times are required to get tested and remain isolated for 14 days. Those in contact with Tier 2 sites are to get tested and remain isolated until a negative test is provided.

The implication for business and social programs in the region has been devastating with hundreds of planned sporting events having to be cancelled at the last minute with only two-hours notice of the lockdown.

Due to volume of information available and the pace at which it is changing, we are providing a link to the Department of Health and Human Services website https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites#exposure-site-table to get the latest information on exposure sites.

John Anderson, president of the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry said, “The new lockdown is devastating both personally and for business. The virus is travelling in the community faster than it did last year. It is incumbent on people to practice good hygiene, maintain social distancing, wear masks and where possible, get vaccinated.

“If people have doubts about the vaccine, consult their health professionals and not social media for any information.”