Browsing: COVID-19

PENINSULA Health is saying thank you to its more than 6500 staff across the Frankston Mornington Peninsula as 2020 draws to a close. “We know that many people in our health service and in our community were impacted by the pandemic, in a multitude of complicated and difficult ways,” says Felicity Topp, Chief Executive Peninsula Health. “Each and every staff member at Peninsula Health went above and beyond to ensure we could provide outstanding care to our community. I’d like to give my heartfelt thanks to all of our people for their wonderful contribution this year.” As part of the…

THE 100,000 swab tests conducted by Peninsula Health for COVID-19 are being described as a “significant milestone for everyone involved”. The “milestone” patient visited the drive-through screening clinic at the Frankston Hospital campus, corner of Hastings Road and Yuille Street, last week. “Thank you to every single person who has come forward and done the right thing – getting that test at the earliest sign of any COVID-19 symptom,” the operations director of Peninsula Health’s Screening Clinics Jodi Foley said. “We’ve come a long way since March. As the coronavirus situation evolved in Victoria over these past eight months, so…

NOT one to do things by halves, Sorrento restaurateur Julian Gerner is leading what’s been described as a “novel” and “bold” High Court bid to force a relaxation of Victoria’s tough COVID-19 lockdown rules. The proprietor of Morgan’s bar and restaurant and former owner of The Continental hotel will argue that the five-kilometre rule and essential worker permits are a disproportionate response in the fight against the virus. Mr Gerner will contend that the restrictions go against citizens’ implied rights of freedom of movement within the states to take part in personal, family, recreational and commercial activities – in short,…

MORNINGTON Peninsula travel agents held a zoom meeting with Flinders MP Greg Hunt last week to discuss their struggles under the pandemic and to seek tailored financial support. The “gathering of the troops” was arranged by Mornington Travel principal Lee Midson, Thursday 24 September. The 30 agents – all members of the Australian Federation of Travel Agents – are seeking federal and state government support for a $125 million travel agent support package “given the travel downturn and refund backlog”. They briefed Mr Hunt on the “critical” need for financial aid for their businesses, which “are all locally owned and…

POLICE say they are ramping up patrols to prevent out-of-towners flocking to holiday hotspots on the Mornington Peninsula. The aim is to ensure that only peninsula residents or others travelling with a permitted purpose arrive in the area. Police say they will have a “highly visible” presence at checkpoints on arterial roads, mobile vehicle checkpoints and ongoing patrols as part of Operation Sentinel. A note on the police Eyewatch social media page said anyone pulled over at a vehicle checkpoint could expect to have their licence and work permit checked by police and their residential address confirmed. “Police will also…

TIME is a relative concept. Probably a second cousin twice removed. Or an uncle you see twice a year and who mumbles a lot and monopolises the cabana at family functions. (Come to think of it, that uncle may well be me.) But I’ll admit the news that our stage four lockdown would be heading into extra time, if not a penalty shoot out, was something of a blow. Not just a swift clip behind the ears, either, but a full-booted kick to the solar plexus. I’d been looking forward to a change. If I’m being honest, I was looking…

RESTAURATEUR Michelle Loielo hopes to set a legal precedent preventing state premiers from having the powers to declare a curfew like the one Victorians are under during the COVID-19 restrictions. Her decision to challenge the power of the Premier Daniel Andrews in the Supreme Court has led to widespread support, and condemnation. Ms Loielo’s legal team last Monday (14 September) filed a motion in the Supreme Court against Michelle Giles, who is Victoria’s Deputy Public Health Commander, for the curfew to be declared “unlawful and invalid”. A further Directions Hearing was scheduled for Monday (21 September) this week. Ms Loielo,…

BUSINESSES are pitching in to help Victorians cope with the stresses and strains of dealing with restrictions imposed in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While regional Victoria is feeling the benefits of restrictions being eased, the Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne remain under stage four restrictions. Charlie Ryan, of Red Hill, who started design agency Five Creative with James Baker in 2009, said they launched their V for Victoria campaign in the hope of “spreading a unifying message of love, hope and solidarity across the country”. The stylised hand forming a peace sign has been reproduced on posters…

RESIDENTS and staff at the Village Glen Aged Care Residences, Mornington are this week expecting to be tested for COVID-19. If the Department of Health and Human Services does arrive, it will be for the “fourth or fifth time” since five deaths and 37 positive cases were recorded at the home in August. Chief operating officer Peter Nilsson said on Saturday (12 September) that while five residents had died “with COVID-19”, the home had been virus-free for 23 days. He said DHHS had been told that it was wrong to keep saying there were still active cases. He expected DHHS…

THINGS seem a little lighter this week, with the reopening of children’s playgrounds, exercise times being extended to two hours and a later curfew (9pm-5am). On the Mornington Peninsula active cases of COVID-19 have dropped from 18 on Monday 7 September to four on Sunday 13 September. In Frankston, the drop has not been so dramatic, falling from 20 to 13 over seven days. Frankston Hospital was on Sunday reporting six active cases from a total 90 positive cases among staff and patients. Mornington Peninsula Shire has issued a reminder to parents that maternal and child health and immunisation services…

Active cases of coronavirus on the Mornington Peninsula have dropped to just 10 cases. The dramatic slide has active cases on the peninsula at their lowest levels since 21 July. Just one week ago, there were 37 active cases on the Mornington Peninsula, and two weeks ago there were 52 active cases on the Mornington Peninsula. The low numbers will add weight to calls for the Mornington Peninsula to be excluded from the current metropolitan Stage Four lockdown. Local lobby group, Committee for the Mornington Peninsula, expressed “dismay” at Sunday’s announcement by the Premier that the peninsula would continue to…

WASTEWATER being used on the Mornington Peninsula and pumped in-to the sea at the south-eastern outfall, near Gunnamatta is being checked and treated for the coronavirus. The Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme is one of the sampling sites established across Victoria as part of the ColoSSoS (Collaboration on Sewage Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2) research project. The Department of Health and Human Services says New Zealand, the Netherlands, Canada, Turkey and other countries also test wastewater as part of their coronavirus surveillance. There are 25 sampling sites across state including the sewage treatment plant in Craigie Road, Mount Martha. The DHHS says…

MORNINGTON police were surprised and caught off guard last week by a protester who used a thin bike lock to chain herself to a pillar outside their Main Street headquarters. The Mornington woman, who arrived about 10am, Thursday 3 September, said she was protesting in support of a Ballarat woman charged with incitement after allegedly taking to social media to organise an anti-lockdown rally. The mother-to-be was handcuffed in her home, which saw police accused of being “heavy handed”. Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson described it as a “disproportionate” response. Undeterred, an exasperated Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said police were sick…

IN what seems an unlikely scenario, birds, particularly seabirds, have become collateral victims to the coronavirus pandemic. Untold numbers of disposable but not biodegradable face masks are entering the environment, adding to the already overwhelming pollution of beaches and waterways. And people heading to the beach for exercise or just quiet contemplation, are offering birds tidbits and snacks that are not part of their normal diets. Processed foods, such as bread and mincemeat should not be on the menu. The birds may be killed out of kindness. Disposing of the masks, which can take years to break down, has become…

FACE masks have now become a part of daily life. Wearing them outside the house is compulsory and may stay that way even when the stage four coronavirus restrictions are lifted or eased. Disposing of the masks, which can take years to break down, has become a massive world wide problem. Not only are discarded masks potential spreaders of the coronavirus (research shows that under certain conditions viruses can survive up to seven days on plastic masks), but they are also a danger to wildlife. Masks can smother the environment and are ingested by animals which sometimes cannot distinguish between…

THE number of  Frankston Hospital staff members sent into self-isolation has climbed to 618 after an outbreak of COVID-19 cases at the hospital. As of Saturday (29 August) the Department of Health and Human Services said there were 68 active cases linked to the hospital. The outbreak has led to the temporary closure of the hospital’s acute medical surgical and surgical short stay units and the 5GN ward. On Tuesday (25 August) DHHS said there had been 37 cases (21 residents and 16 staff) linked to Village Glen Aged Care Residences, Mornington. The DHHS is also investigating cases linked to…

SURFERS have been cleared for take-off on Mornington Peninsula beaches by the Department of Health and Human Services and Parks Victoria. However, they still may face a wipeout if they are caught by police outside a five kilometre radius of their homes. Confusion last week saw police on the peninsula saying they would book surfers as surfing was a recreation and not exercise. Under COVID-19 restrictions you are allowed to drive within a five kilometre radius of your house to exercise, but within days of the police interpretation of what constitutes, exercise both Parks Victoria and the DHHS confirmed surfing…

Confirmed cases and active cases on the Mornington Peninsula as at 27/8/20 Listed in order of most confirmed cases to least confirmed cases. Mornington (Postcode 3931) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 51 – Active Cases (current): 30 Mount Martha (Postcode 3934) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 27 – Active Cases (current): 9 Somerville (Postcode 3912) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 11 – Active Cases (current): 6 Mount Eliza (Postcode 3930) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 11 – Active Cases (current): 0 Rosebud, Boneo, Cape Schanck, Fingal (Postcode 3939) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 10 – Active Cases (current): 2 Flinders (Postcode 3929) – Confirmed…

CAMPING grounds on Mornington Peninsula foreshores will not open until at least 19 December because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision to cancel the scheduled 23 October opening followed the introduction by the state government of stage four restrictions. Mornington Peninsula Shire says a decision on when to start to 2020-21 camping will be made later in the year. “While we are disappointed the camping season has to be postponed, it is a necessary step to protect our community and do our part to flatten the curve of this pandemic,” a news release from the shire stated. First published in…

POSITIVE COVID-19 tests for 51 staff at Frankston Hospital has led to another 446 staff being forced to self-isolate at home. Early last week, Peninsula Health CEO Felicity Topp confirmed that 51 staff members had tested positive to COVID-19. Peninsula Health, which runs Frankston and Rosebud hospitals said investigations were underway into the source of the cases. No cases have been detected among staff at Peninsula Health’s rehabilitation centre and a palliative care unit in Golf Links Road, Frankston “Of the 51 staff cases, 40 are nursing staff, with four doctors having tested positive at this point, along with five…

PENINSULA Health had a good response to its mobile Covid-19 testing clinics at Bonbeach and Mt Eliza last week. About 50-75 people were tested each day over the week with more at other clinics, including at Frankston Hospital screening clinic at 12 Hastings Road and the drive through clinic at Frankston Basketball Stadium, 90 Bardia Avenue, open 8.30am-4pm. Another Covid-19 walk-in screening clinic opened at the Hastings Scout Hall on Sunday 23 August. It is open 8.30am-3.30pm until Wednesday (26 August 26) and is accessible via 15 Thornhill Street. If you have any symptoms, it is important you self-isolate and…

Mornington Peninsula Total cases: 155 – Active cases: 60 – New cases today: 3 Total cases on the Mornington Peninsula hit 155. Mornington the current hot-spot with a total of 39 cases and 27 active cases. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Victoria has recorded 240 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 17,683. The overall total has increased by 237 due to 3 cases being reclassified largely due to duplication. Within Victoria, 101 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and 139 are under investigation. There have been 13 new deaths from COVID-19 reported…

The Mornington Peninsula has had 34 new cases of coronavirus in the last week. The peninsula has had a total of 155 cases, and 60 are still active, an increase in active cases of 17 over the week. The City of Frankston had an increase of 39 cases in the last week bringing the total cases to 194. City of Frankston’s active cases have stayed stable since a week ago at 77. The City of Casey has had an increase of 125 cases in the last week bringing their total to 822 cases with 228 still active. The City of…

Confirmed cases and active cases on the Mornington Peninsula as at 20/8/20 Listed in order of most confirmed cases to least confirmed cases. Mornington (Postcode 3931) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 39 – Active Cases (current): 27 Mount Martha (Postcode 3934) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 21 – Active Cases (current): 7 Somerville (Postcode 3912) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 15 – Active Cases (current): 7 Rosebud, Boneo, Cape Schanck, Fingal (Postcode 3939) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 11 – Active Cases (current): 5 Mount Eliza (Postcode 3930) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 10 – Active Cases (current): 1 Flinders (Postcode 3929) – Confirmed…

Mornington Peninsula Total cases: 121 – Active cases: 43 – New cases today: 7 Seven new cases on the peninsula in the last 24 hours. Total cases on the Mornington Peninsula hit 121. Mornington the current hot-spot with a total of 24 cases and 13 active cases. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: Victoria has recorded 278 new cases of coronavirus since yesterday, with the total number of cases now at 15,863. The overall total has increased by 217 due to 61 cases being reclassified – largely due to duplication. Within Victoria, 64 of the new cases are linked to outbreaks or complex cases and…

The Mornington Peninsula has had seven new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The peninsula has had a total of 121 cases, and 43 are still active. The City of Frankston had an increase of six cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total cases to 151. City of Frankston’s active cases have risen by six cases to 77. The City of Casey has had an increase of 12 cases in the last 24 hours bringing their total to 697 cases with 354 still active. The City of Kingston has had one new case in the last…

Confirmed cases and active cases on the Mornington Peninsula as at 13/8/20 Listed in order of most confirmed cases to least confirmed cases. Mornington (Postcode 3931) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 24 – Active Cases (current): 13 Mount Martha (Postcode 3934) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 16 – Active Cases (current): 5 Mount Eliza (Postcode 3930) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 11 – Active Cases (current): 3 Somerville (Postcode 3912) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 10 – Active Cases (current): 5 Flinders (Postcode 3929) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 7 – Active Cases (current): 0 Sorrento (Postcode 3943) – Confirmed Cases (ever): 7 -…

MORNINGTON Peninsula Shire mayor Cr Sam Hearn has called for calm following last week’s declaration of a state of emergency and the introduction of stage four restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19. “As we navigate the next six weeks let’s do our best to be patient, resilient and calm. This situation is unfamiliar to all of us,” Cr Hearn said. “We are in this together and if we all do the right thing we will be on the other side of this sooner.” Changes to the daily lives of Victorians include: An 8pm-5am curfew (the only reasons to leave…

WITH an expected drop in demand due to the stage four coronavirus restrictions, Searoad Ferries has suspended weekend ferry services between Sorrento and Queenscliff until at least 19 September. The ferry will continue its two-hourly Monday-Friday service. The cut back follows changes brought in with the stage three restrictions last month (“All clear for essential ferry” The News 13/7/20). “This is obviously an historic and significant step to suspend the service for the first time in 33 years,” Searoad CEO Matt McDonald said. “However, we must respond to the unprecedented circumstances which we find ourselves in, with stage four lockdown…

The Mornington Peninsula has had three new cases of coronavirus in the last 24 hours. The peninsula has had a total of 103 cases, and 28 are still active. That is an increase of three active cases in the last 24 hours. The City of Frankston had an increase of two cases in the last 24 hours bringing the total cases to 126. City of Frankston’s active cases have risen by two cases to 66. The City of Casey has had an increase of 32 cases in the last 24 hours bringing their total to 596 cases with 343 still…