City records one new COVID case

ONE new COVID-19 case has been recorded overnight in Ballarat.

However, Medical director of the Grampians Public Health Unit Associate Professor Rosemary Aldrich said this case is a close primary contact of a pre-existing case, and poses no threat to the community.

“That’s a person who has already been in isolation and has generated no further exposure sites,” she said.

“Just like we aim to do, we found out about them before they became infectious. That way, we were able to have them be in isolation so that when they did become infectious, they were of no risk to anyone.”

Ballarat Health Services acting CEO Melanie Robertson said there are currently 21 active cases across the city.

“The one case we have reported on previously in Daylesford has now been cleared and removed from our figures,” she said.

“We will have other people removed from the figures over the next few days as well, we hope.

“As a reminder, now that we’re out of lockdown… follow restrictions, get tested if you’re feeling unwell, or you have been to an exposure site.”

There have been three unexpected wastewater detections of COVID-19 in Central Ballarat and the Ballarat North catchment area.

“We’re asking people in certain suburbs to come out and get tested; especially if they have been primary or secondary close contacts, have been to exposure sites, have returned to our region on a Red Zone Permit… or have come to our region for some other permissible reason,” Associate Professor Aldrich said.

“We’re talking about Lake Gardens, Alfredton and Delacombe, Redan, Ascot, Bald Hills, Ballarat North, Blowhard, Cabbage Tree, Cardigan, Invermay, Invermay Park, Lake Wendouree, Learmonth, Miners Rest, Mitchell Park, Mount Rowan, Smokey Town, Springmount, Sulky, Wendouree and Windermere.

“Creswick is not of concern.”

Ms Robertson said Ballarat might have opened up last night, but the city is not immune, and BHS is “realistic.”

“We could have undetected COVID in our community right now. We can certainly expect more exposure sites over the coming days and weeks.”

Ahead of the long AFL Grand Final weekend, Ms Robertson said “vigilance and cautiousness” needs to be maintained.

“Please abide by COVID-safe rules. Now is not the time to be having people around to your house and socialising in large numbers,” she said.

Yesterday, 1400 people were tested for COVID-19 in Ballarat; approximately one-and-a-half per cent of the city’s population.

The Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre and Victoria Park testing facilities are closing, but the Marty Busch Reserve site will remain open.

GovHub remains a tier one site for staff, visitors to staff areas, and contractors, and tier two for customers who have been to the public side of the building.