MARCH 10, 2020 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
Blitz some backyard fun Celebrate the Aussie backyard at the Whittlesea Community Festival this Sunday. The annual event will be held at the Whittlesea Public Gardens, offering fun for the whole family. The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Our Backyard’, celebrating the gatherings, games and garden that are part of life in both private backyards and community parks. Whittlesea council said the event will also celebrate the many cultures that make up the Whittlesea community and the different ways we use and look after our recreational, social and restful spaces. The festival will feature live music, art, dancing, backyard games, roving entertainers, free kids’ activities and rides. A free bus will run between the Whittlesea Public Gardens and Thomastown station, via Pacific Epping. The Whittlesea Community Festival is at 157 Barry Road, Lalor, from 11am-5pm. Details: whittlesea.vic.gov.au Laura Michell
Born in a Taxi, Liz Skitch and Pirritu will be among the performers at this year’s festival. (Supplied)
Hospital on virus standby By Laura Michell Northern Health says it has contingency plans in place to ensure it can continue to provide “safe care” to the community in the event of a local coronavirus outbreak. Northern Health chief medical officer, Dr John Ferguson confirmed there had been no cases of COVID-19 identified at the health service, which operates the Northern and Broadmeadows hospitals and the Bundoora and Craigieburn centres. “Patients with symptoms have been tested with results clear for coronavirus,” he said.
“Northern Health has established an active working group and is closely monitoring the situation and providing regular updates for staff and the community.” A coronavirus update on Northern Health’s website advises anyone who is concerned they are at risk of carrying the virus due to recent travel to contact the Department of Health and Human Services’ coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 before attending the emergency department or health service appointment. Last week, a Craigieburn resident took to Facebook to urge the community to phone ahead to GP clinics if they suspect they have
the virus. The resident said that during a visit to a Craigieburn GP clinic on March 4, she was advised not to sit on one side of the clinic as there was a patient who potentially had the virus. In the Facebook post, the resident said a doctor told her to call the clinic before attending if she showed any symptoms of coronavirus in the coming weeks. “I’m writing to let others know to not go into a doctors’ clinic, instead call,” the post said. It comes as an Altona North GP, who is the former Australian Medical Association
president and World Medical Association chair, warned GPs are not equipped to deal with a potential outbreak of coronavirus. Dr Mukesh Haikerwal said GPs had received no advice on what to do if they have a patient with the virus. He called for ‘sentinel practices’ – that is practices that are “prepared with gear and people and training” – to be set up to take the load off GP clinics. According to the federal Department of Health, there were 52 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia as of March 5, 10 of which are in Victoria.
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