HEALTH sources are confident the latest COVID-19 outbreak in the Swan Hill local government area is now contained.
The number of active cases has now more than halved since reaching a peak of 67 positive infections on October 26.
There were 31 active cases yesterday.
It came as the LGA surged past the 95 per cent fully vaccinated rate target on Monday — placing the council area in the top three of the state.
Swan Hill District Health (SHDH) acting chief executive Rex Prabhu said he was pleased to see no new cases emerge in the past few days.
“We had quite a bit of a cluster in the St Mary’s Primary School and that cluster has now gone through their 14-day isolation which is why there were quite a few cases drop off on Monday and Tuesday,” Mr Prabhu said.
“There wasn’t much social transmission in the community but within households … some emergency housing was established with support from the housing department.
“Not only the hospital, but the entire town has been doing well, following compliance and getting vaccinated in record numbers.”
Asked if vaccination hesitancy was being overcome, Mr Prabhu said the vaccination rate “spoke for itself”.
“People are willing to come forward, and there will be some people still hesitant and some people have exemptions because of medical conditions,” he said.
“As a country alone, we are doing really well compared to others, but Swan Hill in particular is doing really well.
“The early access to vaccines put us on the map because we had the Federal hub here, plus all the pharmacies and GP clinics.”
Mr Prabhu expected operating hours at the drive-through testing clinic to reduce from next week as testing numbers dropped.
“Today we did less than 100 … those peaks of 400 tests per day a fortnight ago is slowing down,” he said.
Mr Prabhu said the management of positive cases would change as time in isolation for close contacts was halved and rapid testing kits became available from supermarkets.
From Monday, the health services’ vaccination clinic at the Tristar Medical Centre on Campbell Street will be offering third dose COVID vaccinations to anyone 18 and over and have had two doses more than six months ago.
“We anticipate a fairly good take up of the third booster vaccine, particularly in those who are immunocompromised,” Mr Prabhu said.
“There are quite a lot of people who had their first two doses some months ago now.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said he was still confident that Victoria would transition to greater freedoms on November 24, when the state was expected to reach its 90 per cent double-dose target.
There were 1247 local infections and nine deaths reported yesterday, up from 941 on Wednesday.
There are 660 Victorians in hospital with the virus, including 114 in ICU and 78 on a ventilator.
Mr Andrews said the fact that hospitalisation rates had continued to dip was a good sign.
“Hospitalisation numbers are the key numbers … that is a very positive trend,” he said.
“That is not to say that it will hold fast, we have to monitor that every single day.”
Bookings for the vaccine booster are essential through the online booking platform at www.hotdoc.com.au/medicalcentres/swan-hill-VIC-3585/swan-hill-respiratory-clinic/doctors or by calling the clinic on 5033 9968.
Bring proof of your first two doses to your appointment.
