JUNE 30, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
(Damjan Janevski) 209925_01
Respiratory clinic opens A GP-led respiratory clinic has opened in Thomastown. The Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) and First People’s Health and Wellbeing opened the High Street clinic earlier this month. EMPHN chief executive Janine Wilson said the clinic is one of more than 100 respiratory clinics set up across the country by the federal government. She said the clinic had been set up to assess people with respiratory symptoms and, where appropriate, test people for COVID-19, the lu and pneumonia. “Importantly, this respiratory clinic will help the local health care services – taking the pressure off hospitals and general practices by providing dedicated treatment to people with mild-to-moderate symptoms of fever or sore throat, cough, fatigue or shortness of breath,” Ms Wilson said. First People’s Health and Wellbeing chief executive Karinda Taylor urged anyone in the north-eastern suburbs with mild-to-moderate symptoms, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, to make an appointment. For appointments call 9070 8181. NURSE TANISHA TESTS A PATIENT FOR COVID-19
Laura Michell
Virus hotspot testing blitz By Laura Michell A testing blitz is under way in Broadmeadows ater the suburb was revealed as a COVID-19 hotspot. Premier Daniel Andrews announced the blitz last hursday, revealing Keilor Downs and Broadmeadows as the worst suburbs statewide for community transmission of the virus. He said the government was striving to test 50 per cent of residents in both suburbs. Testing will also be ramped up in Maidstone, Albanvale, Sunshine West, Hallam, Brunswick West, Fawkner, Reservoir and Pakenham,
with those suburbs identiied as also having a “community transmission challenge”. A team of 800 doorknockers will be deployed, talking to the community in afected suburbs and encouraging people to get tested, regardless of whether they have symptoms. “People are going to be knocking on your door and they are going to be asking you to get tested. Please say yes. Please go and get tested, that is the most important thing people in those suburbs can do to help us contain this virus,” Mr Andrews said. Hume mayor Carly Moore also urged
Broadmeadows residents to get tested. “We all need to do our bit to stop the spread of COVID-19. Nobody in our community is immune,“ she said. “Even if you have mild symptoms … I urge you to please get tested. We need to know what we are dealing with.” New testing centres opened at Broadmeadows Central and the Craigieburn Health Service last week, however, they have been plagued by lengthy queues. here were 118 conirmed cases of COVID-19 in Hume as of Sunday, of which 33 were active. he municipality had just nine active cases a
week earlier on June 21. here were 57 active cases in Whittlesea as of Sunday. An outbreak in Wollert, which is linked to a number of social gatherings and St Monica’s College, has grown to eight people. Mill Park McDonald’s was closed for cleaning on Friday ater a worker, who attends St Monica’s, tested positive for the virus. Meanwhile, Coles and Woolworths have reintroduced limits on a number of items including toilet paper, mince, pasta and rice, as shoppers again begin stripping supermarket shelves amid fears of local lockdowns.
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