MOST of Victoria’s 79 councils want to cancel the elections scheduled to be held in October. Mornington Peninsula Shire, while not having a specific point of view, says “primary considerations” should be the community’s health and safety as well as “upholding the core principles of local democracy”. The Municipal Association of Victoria has told the state government that the council’s favour deferring the elections until next year. The government is expected to decide in the next few weeks to go ahead or abandon the council elections because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “A delay should be considered if over the coming…
Browsing: COVID-19
THE mental health support organisation headspace has opened a satellite service in Rosebud. While offering three of the four core headspace streams the Rosebud service will also provide outreach support to young people and their families on the Mornington Peninsula. “Right now, Australians are facing a once in a century challenge,” federal Health Minister and Flinders MP Greg Hunt said. “It is not only important during the coronavirus to focus on our physical wellbeing, but also our mental wellbeing”. Financed by the federal government through the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN), the new service will be delivered by…
Shire tips are open to all. Car park clinics test Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Frankston and Hastings. Peninsula numbers stable today after a jump of three cases yesterday. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1329 – an increase of one from yesterday. The new case was a man recently arrived from overseas, who was diagnosed in mandatory quarantine in a city hotel. There were no new deaths reported yesterday. To date, 15 people have died from coronavirus in Victoria. The total number of cases is made…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria have today risen to 1329 – an increase of one from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s cases stayed stable at 59 today after jumping from 56 to 59 on Sunday. The peninsula’s COVID-19 cases have risen by just six in the last two weeks. In nearby municipalities, City of Frankston have 36 confirmed cases, unchanged for over a week. The City of Casey have 53 confirmed cases, stable from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula is currently sixth in the list of Local Government Areas’s number of infections. The ten worst affected Local Government Areas in Victoria are: City…
AVOIDING close contact with other people is a luxury police cannot afford. Their role in the state of emergency brought on by COVID-19 is a combination of things they have never done before and things they have always done, but with the added fear of being exposed to a new, unseen enemy. Officer-in-charge of Mornington police station Senior Sergeant Paul Edwards said his staff had been told to “keep their distance [from people] to limit their possible exposure” to the virus as directed by the Chief Health Officer. “There are only so many precautions we can take as we still…
PEOPLE are taking a tipple more frequently as a result of COVID-19. The Alcohol and Drug Foundation is urging restraint as new national data shows 20 per cent of households report buying more alcohol than usual. The YouGov Galaxy poll for the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education shows that in these households 70 per cent said they were drinking more than usual while 34 per cent said they were now drinking every day. A third were “concerned” with how much alcohol they were drinking, or someone else in their household was drinking, and 28 per cent said they were…
POLICE have given assurances they will take no action against residents legitimately dumping rubbish at Mornington Peninsula Shire’s transfer station in Watt Road after identifying it an “essential service”. Some prospective tippers last week said they were concerned police were waiting to nab them – even though the transfer station appeared to be doing business as usual. A call to the shire’s head office received the same warning: They had heard reports that some domestic tippers had received on-the-spot fines of $1600 as it was “not one of the four legitimate reasons for being out”. The shire says transfer stations…
JOHN Zacek admits that he has been a bit short tempered when dealing with staff at the office of Flinders MP Greg Hunt. But he attributes his anger to the “purely political” responses he received from Mr Hunt’s office when expressing frustration at the lack of a testing site for COVID-19 on the Mornington Peninsula. The closest “respiratory clinic” is at Frankston Hospital, a distance Mr Zacek sees as being too far away for the peninsula’s population of more than 167,000, especially the nearly 40,000 aged over 65. When asked by The News for comment on Mr Zacek’s concerns, Mr…
A DROMANA woman who has been volunteering as a family violence victim advocate for the past three years fears enforced isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to an increase in abuse. Geraldine Bilston said isolated living, less contact with people outside their homes, financial pressures and unforeseen stresses could mean “we are now bracing for an increase in domestic violence on the Mornington Peninsula”. As a survivor of domestic violence who fled with her daughter from a “man we should have been able to trust and feel safe with”, Ms Bilston said she experienced many forms of family…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria have today risen to 1241 – an increase of 13 from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s cases increased by one to 55 after three days at 54. The peninsula’s COVID-19 cases have risen by just just four in the last week, but all eyes have now shifted to the possible influx of tourists over the Easter break that may see all the good work undone. Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton today repeated his strong message that Victorians must continue to be vigilant in practicing physical distancing and staying at home for all but essential outings.…
Police are preparing to turn around holidaymakers over the Easter holidays. Mornington Peninsula’s cases rising much slower than state and national averages. No new cases on the peninsula for three days. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1228 – an increase of 16 from yesterday. There were no new deaths overnight. The number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus is 12. The total number of cases includes 642 men and 585 women. Cases range in age from babies to their early nineties. There are 110…
HOLIDAYMAKERS visiting the Mornington Peninsula over Easter and planning to stay at holiday rentals, such as Airbnb properties, run the risk of being turned around and sent home. Somerville CIU Senior Sergeant Steve Wood, of the Frontline Tasking Unit, said police were already patrolling major thoroughfares, such as Peninsula Link and the Nepean Highway, looking for “obvious” visitors and pulling them over. “The rules are that people must stay at home and not undertake non-essential travel – and travel to holiday rental properties is non-essential,” he said. “This applies to rentals regardless of when they were booked.” Senior Sergeant Wood…
It was 15 days ago that the Mornington Peninsula was shocked out of complacency with the first release of COVID-19 case data split into Local Government Areas. The Mornington Peninsula’s tally of 36 cases on 26 March placed them as the second highest LGA in the state. But the 15 days since have seen the peninsula aggressively “flattening the curve”, and trending much lower than either the state of federal figures. Today’s peninsula figure of 54, unchanged for three days, equates to a 50% increase in the last 15 days. Victoria’s figures, in the same 15 days, have risen 136%,…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria have today risen to 1228 – an increase of 16 from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s figures stayed steady at 54 for the third day in a row. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 36 confirmed cases, the same as yesterday. The City of Casey have 47 confirmed cases, two up from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula has maintained its position as the sixth highest number of infections of all the Local Government Areas, falling from second highest just nine days ago. The ten worst affected Local Government Areas in Victoria are: City of Stonnington with 87 confirmed…
Mornington Railway mourns member lost to COVID-19. Peninsula cases stay at 54. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1212 – an increase of 21 from yesterday. Yesterday a woman in her 80s died in hospital, taking the number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus to 12. The total number of cases includes 635 men and 577 women. Cases range in age from babies to their early nineties. There are 101 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have been acquired through community transmission. Currently…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria have today risen to 1212 – an increase of 21 from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s figures stayed steady at 54. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 36 confirmed cases, one up since yesterday. The City of Casey have 45 confirmed cases, with no new cases since yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula has dropped its position to the sixth highest number of infections of all the Local Government Areas, falling from second highest just eight days ago. The ten worst affected Local Government Areas in Victoria are: City of Stonnington with 87 confirmed cases. City of Banyule with…
The tight-knit group of volunteers from the Mornington Railway Preservation Society are mourning the loss of one of their members, Elaine Cairns, who died at Dandenong Hospital on Friday. The 78 year old, who lived in Frankston South, is the first known local to have died of COVID-19. Ms Cairns is survived by her sister Diane. The statement on the Mornington Railway’s website and social media on Friday read: “It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that the Mornington Railway informs its followers of the loss of a valued member of our railway family. “Elaine Cairns, a friend…
Mornington Peninsula Shire’s CEO given emergency powers. Peninsula Health announce new visitor guidelines. One new peninsula case today. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1191 – an increase of 33 from yesterday. Yesterday a woman in her 80s died in hospital, taking the number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus to 11. The total number of cases includes 623 men and 568 women. Cases range in age from babies to their early nineties. There are 93 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Victoria that may have…
Peninsula Health have announced new visitor guidelines as detailed below: Peninsula Health has strategies in place to contain the spread of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and keep you and your loved ones safe. We ask all visitors to please take note of our new Visitor Guidelines, across all Peninsula Health sites, updated Tuesday 31 March. No visitors are permitted entry to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Ward 5GN and the Acute Medical Surgical Unit (AMSU) at Frankston Hospital. One (1) visitor per patient per day Visiting hours are 4PM to 8PM (except Maternity and Paediatrics) No visitors under 16 years of age…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria have today risen to 1191 – an increase of 33 from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s figures have risen by one to 54. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 35 confirmed cases, unchanged since yesterday. The City of Casey have 45 confirmed cases, a jump of five since yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula has maintained its position as the fifth highest number of infections of all the Local Government Areas, falling from second highest just seven days ago. The ten worst affected Local Government Areas in Victoria are: City of Stonnington with 87 confirmed cases. City of Banyule…
In the last week and a half, a small factory in Somerville has made 10,000 plastic face shields to protect workers during the COVID-19 crisis. A radiology clinic in Frankston closes after virus outbreak. No new cases recorded on the peninsula today. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1158 – an increase of 23 from yesterday. Yesterday a man in his 50s died in hospital and a woman in her 80s died at home, taking the number of people who have died in Victoria from coronavirus to 10.…
IN the past week and a half, a small factory in Somerville has made 10,000 plastic face shields to protect workers during the COVID-19 crisis. Martyn Gittens said that his company, BerleyPro, which normally makes equipment for kayak fishing and visors for fish finders, could easily switch to making the medical shields. “It was really fun to ramp up and now we’re almost out of control,” he said on Monday. “I knew we had to run with it as so many people needed them.” Buying and sourcing materials was easy at first but had become problematic since the federal government…
THE I-MED radiology clinic in Frankston has closed after staff members tested positive to COVID-19. A joint statement issued last week by I-MED Radiology CEO Dr Shrey Viranna and Chief Medical Officer Dr Ron Shnier read that “a number of our employees at Frankston Radiology have tested positive for COVID-19.” “We have worked with the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure any patients who had experienced close contact with the employees were notified. In addition all employees who had experienced close contact have self isolated for 14 days and have been tested before recommencing work,” the statement read.…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria are at 1158 today – an increase of 23 from yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula’s figures are unchanged from yesterday’s number of 53. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 35 confirmed cases, an increase of one since yesterday. The City of Casey have 40 confirmed cases, with three new cases since yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula has maintained its position as the fifth highest number of infections of all the Local Government Areas, falling from second highest just six days ago. The ten worst affected Local Government Areas in Victoria are: City of Stonnington with 86 confirmed cases.…
INTERACTION between crews aboard overseas ships using the Port of Hastings and onshore workers are being kept to a minimum, but there is no physical barrier to crews coming ashore. The Victorian Regional Channels Authority says it has been assessing the potential impacts of COVID-19 since travel restrictions were placed on the movement of people from mainland-China in early February 2020. Hastings and other Australian are subjected to COVID-19 Australian Border Force protocols, but do not have ABF officers on duty at all times. Key trades at the Port of Hastings include the import and export of oil, liquid petroleum…
Mornington Peninsula Shire CEO John Baker will be given emergency powers to make decisions normally made only by elected councillors. A special meeting on council (Tuesday 7 April) is expected to agree to hand the powers to Mr Baker if councillors are ill or unable to meet because of COVID-19. Under the suggested new rules, Mr Baker will be able to approve items of up to $1 million (if already in an adopted budget); $750,000 for works; $500,000 goods and services; and $200,000 for goods and services and works. While Mr Baker is certain to get some extra powers, some…
Residents are using the isolation time to clean up around the house, and then going for tip runs in violation of the rules for Stage 3 restrictions. Police receptions counters close until further notice. One more peninsula case today as the curve starts to flatten. Key facts from today’s Victorian COVID-19 update: The total number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Victoria is 1135 – an increase of 20 from yesterday. No additional deaths were recorded overnight. The total number of cases includes 597 men and 538 women. Cases range in age from under one year to their early nineties.…
A RESIDENT has complained that Mornington Peninsula Shire’s transfer stations are “going flat strap catering to hordes of customers who are treating tips like there is no coronavirus”. The man, who asked not to be named to protect staff at one of the transfer stations, said “bored” residents were using spare tip vouchers to fill in their time. He pointed out that none of the state government’s four stay-at-home rules referred to dumping waste at tips. “They are blatantly breaking the rules,” he said. “It’s so wrong.” “Customers are 99 per cent domestic bringing in small loads, like a couple…
RECEPTION counters at all police stations on the Mornington Peninsula are closed until further notice because of the COVID-19 crisis. Stations are at Mornington, Rosebud, Dromana, Sorrento and Hastings. Reception counter at Frankston police station remains open. Those reporting on bail at any station can press the intercom for attention. Senior Sergeant Paul Edwards, of Mornington police, said members of the public wanting “critical” documents signed – such as affidavits allowing them to access their superannuation, for example – would be catered for but others with less urgent documents should go to GPs, pharmacies or bank managers. “With anything considered…
Coronavirus cases in Victoria are 1135 today – an increase of just 20 from yesterday. It is an encouraging sign that the efforts of Victorians to “flatten the curve” are working. The Mornington Peninsula’s figures rose by one since yesterday to 53. Nearby, the City of Frankston have 34 confirmed cases, an increase of one since yesterday. The City of Casey have 37 confirmed cases, with no new cases since yesterday. The Mornington Peninsula has maintained it position as the fifth highest number of infections of all the Local Government Areas, falling from second highest just five days ago. The…