Community urged to get tested as Mildura records positive case of COVID-19

Health authorities in Mildura in north-west Victoria are bracing for more cases of COVID-19 after the region recorded its first positive case in 15 months. 

A man in his 30s presented to emergency at the Mildura Base Public Hospital with COVID symptoms on Saturday evening and has since tested positive.

Mildura Base Hospital CEO Terry Welch said he could not confirm if the man presented to emergency because of his symptoms.

He said the man was in a stable condition and “doing well” today.

The man attended the AFL match at the MCG last Saturday and was in the MCC Members’ Reserve.

Mr Welch said he could not confirm when the man returned to Mildura, a city of more than 30,000 people on the banks of the Murray River,  or if he had been infectious in the community. 

Mr Welch said the hospital was bracing for more cases.

“That’s a reality. We have to be well and truly prepared for a higher number of potential cases,” he said.

“The key is going to be the testing.” 

Mr Welch said six hospital staff had so far been identified as close contacts and would need to self isolate. 

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said a list of exposure sites and more detail about the infectious-person’s movements were expected later today.

“As I understand, we are literally interviewing that person now,” he said at this morning’s press conference.

Testing essential 

Sunraysia Community Health urged people not to get tested for several hours to allow priority groups, including those who had been contacted by the public health unit, to get tested first.

A drive-through testing clinic was expected to open at football ovals on Twelfth St in Mildura at 1:30pm.

Mildura mayor Jason Modica said the case illustrated the importance of abiding rules during lockdown. 

“I think we’ve been very lucky to not have a case over the last 15 months,” he said. 

“We have always said we will abide by the rules in place.

“Lockdown is very difficult for community members who are business people, or people that live by themselves, but it’s important that we do what we’re asked to do to get back to normal as soon as we can.” 

Regional Victoria’s vulnerability

Mr Andrews said the case showed how fast the virus could move from metropolitan areas into regional Victoria.

“Victoria is a big state but when it comes to the spread of this virus, it’s actually very small,” he said.

“And it can move to the furthest part of the state very fast. 

“I understand he is a local [Mildura resident]. We won’t provide all sorts of detail to avoid identifying that person.”