6pm: STAWELL REGIONAL HEALTH chief executive Kate Pryde has echoed calls for Victorians to isolate before and after getting tested for coronavirus.
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It followed Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews saying at his Tuesday coronavirus update that an analysis of 3810 tests conducted between July 7 and July 21, 53 per cent had not isolated appropriately in the time between getting tested and getting their results back.
He also said in this same cohort, nine out of 10 people failed to isolate between seeing symptoms and getting a test.
Ms Pryde said while she had not heard specific examples of this happening in the Northern Grampians, it was concerning.
"the message is early testing, and stay at home for the results," she said.
"We have opened our drive-through testing clinic five days a week to try and support rapid and easy access to testing. obviously we can't control the turnaround time, but the sooner people get tested the less opportunity they have to spread."
She said SRH was working with Grampians Community Health to support people who needed to go into isolation.
"We do the acute stuff and GCH does the community stuff, and they do it very well," she said. "If you are stuck at home and need to get stuff, you can ring this line and we can support you in your physical isolation: you don't have to do it the hard way."
To access GCH's Home Isolation Support Service, contacted 5358 7400 or email home.isolation@gch.org.au.
Earlier: THE WIMMERA HEALTH CARE GROUP is reminding people to return home immediately and self-isolate after being tested for coronavirus.
A spokesman said the service had heard reports of "people heading up the street shopping" after being tested at assessment clinics in Horsham.
"If you have been tested, go straight home and isolate," he said.
"We have heard of people going to the supermarket afterwards and that is not OK. If people are isolating, they must stay home and avoid contact with anyone.
"Where possible, try and use a separate bathroom and you should have no visitors whatsoever."
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The spokesman said the group's Read Street coronavirus assessment clinic had been "snowed under" with people seeking to be tested, after Horsham's St Brigid's College notified parents a Year 12 student had tested positive to COVID-19.
The spokesman also confirmed Horsham would not receive any new assessment clinics or contact tracing teams, which Health Minister Jenny Mikakos announced for cities such as Ballarat and Bendigo last week to curb the spread of coronavirus in regional Victoria.
What does isolating mean?
The Department of Health and Human Services website states isolating at home involves the following:
- You should stay in a different room to other people as much as possible. Sleep in a separate bedroom and use a separate bathroom if available.
- You must not allow other people into the home if they don't live there, unless they are there to provide medical, personal care or household assistance.
- Ensure you stay at least 1.5 metres from others in the home.
- You are permitted to leave your property to exercise however you must keep a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and any other people you encounter.
- You are permitted to leave your property to seek medical help or in an emergency.
The DHHS says people should stay at home and avoid contact if they are feeling unwell, regardless of whether they have been tested.
What happens if you test positive or negative?
The Department of Health and Human Services website states a person's doctor or the clinic where they were tested will contact them by phone to tell them their results, regardless if it is positive or negative.
The DHHS says if people test positive, whether or not they have symptoms, they must immediately self-isolate - and that they should have already been isolating at home while waiting for these results.
It says people will be contacted by a public health worker from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for advice on the next steps.
If the test is negative, their doctor or the clinic where they were tested will tell them this result.
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