DEMAND for COVID-19 testing at Rosebud Respiratory Clinic increased in the past week but there is capacity for more people to get tested.
Positive cases were detected last week among residents from Dromana, Tootgarook and Safety Beach.
“After speaking to the patients we know of some additional exposure sites on the Mornington Peninsula,” the clinic’s Dr Sally Shaw said.
These are Dromana IGA, where a positive case visited 6.40-6.55pm, Saturday 25 September, Xpress Gourmet Pizza & Pasta, Dromana, 6.54-7.10pm, Saturday 25 September, and Mavi Fish & Chips, Dromana, 11.30am-12.30pm, Sunday 26 September.
Another positive case travelled on the 788 bus from Dromana to Rosebud, 12.15-12.35pm, Sunday 26 September. Dr Shaw said the patient got on at Dromana Hub Shopping Centre at 12.20pm and got off at 6th Avenue, Rosebud, 12.35pm. Another case visited Woolworths in Main Street, Mornington, 4.15-5pm, Sunday 26 September.
The Bays Aged Care centre at Hastings has been declared a tier one COVID-19 site. A positive case visited the centre in Victoria Street, from 25 September-2 October.
Dr Shaw said while DHHS had not officially declared the sites as tier one or tier two, she recommended anyone who visited get tested.
“We have contacted the stores involved and DHHS, however we are still concerned that no new sites have been published as of yet,” Dr Shaw said.
Scheduled appointments were “still not as much as we would like considering the increase in case of numbers across Melbourne”.
“We still have no waiting time for testing at our clinic and we’re open seven days a week.
“Nearly half of the cases we have tested as positive have had no symptoms initially and seem to be developing symptoms later on after testing positive,” she said. “Vaccine demand is still very high at our clinics, especially with Pfizer now opening up to anyone over the age of 60.”
Bookings for COVID-19 testing or for vaccinations can be made at peninsulavaccinationcentre.com or call 0436 033 507. The clinic is at 1079 Point Nepean Road, Rosebud.
Other testing sites are Rosebud Hospital in Eleanora House at the front; Frankston Hospital, corner of Hastings Road and Yuille Street, Frankston; and Atticus Health Medical Clinic Hastings. Testing is done in the clinic car park by appointment only.
Testing is free if done through a public health centre or GP offering bulk billing.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 5 October 2021
