BALLARAT Health Services provided a weekend COVID-19 update this afternoon, stating one new local case had been discovered overnight.<\/p>\n
BHS acting CEO Melanie Robertson said there were still 40 Ballarat exposure sites as of midday today, Sunday, 19 September, although some other stats had shifted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 12 active cases in Ballarat… and one in Daylesford,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have 14 positive cases in the Grampians region; one more than yesterday. We have a new confirmed case…but we certainly expect additional local exposure sites will come online.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have zero people in care at the moment within the hospital at Ballarat Health Services, but continue to provide services through our BHS At Home program.\u201d<\/p>\n
BHS and Grampians Public Health Unit infectious diseases expert Dr Aaron Bloch said the case identified as positive last night is a known contact of a previous exposure site.<\/p>\n
This new case seems to be linked to a Melbourne outbreak, and not the three main COVID-positive households in Ballarat.<\/p>\n
Approximately 1800 people were tested for COVID-19 across the city yesterday, Saturday, 18 September.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need people to continue to come forward for testing. Don\u2019t wait for notification about visiting an exposure site. Don\u2019t rely on a text message or a phone call,\u201d Ms Robertson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cContinue to check exposure sites. If you know you\u2019ve been to a site at that date or time, or have even the mildest of symptoms, please come forward and get tested.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur contact tracing team is under immense pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n