New local exposure sites; new Torquay testing site

AS MORE local Covid-19 exposure sites have been added to the list, a pop-up drive-through testing site has opened at Torquay’s Spring Creek Reserve today.

The new Torquay site will remain open seven days a week, 8am to 6pm, while Covid testing demand remains high, and the community is urged to be patient and be prepared for long wait times at testing sites.

Coles at Waurn Ponds on September 9, 7.30am to10am, was added last night as a Tier 1 site for staff and a Tier 2 site for customers.

Other sites added in recent days includes specified times on September 7 at the Coles, Waurn Ponds, Coles Torquay, Coles Ocean Grove, Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes Ocean Grove.

The Department of Health has advised that not all exposure sites are published online.

If you have received a text message from the Department of Health informing you that you were at an exposure site, and the site is not listed online, you must follow the advice in the text message.

It is essential that everyone checks the list before leaving home and potentially spreading the virus at workplaces, public areas, or businesses in your community.

If you have attended a Tier 2 exposure site during the listed dates and times, get tested as soon as possible and isolate until you receive a result.

If you’ve attended a Tier 1 site, get tested and isolate for 14 days.

It’s also an important step to get vaccinated if you are eligible and want to help protect the community, while also staying informed on outbreaks and exposure sites as the situation develops.

The list of exposure sites are also growing in Ballarat, which has started a week-long lockdown after wastewater detection and a handful of positive cases, and Shepparton’s lockdown has ended.

Meanwhile, Vline disruptions are continuing on the Geelong line as coaches replace the majority of rail services today while frontline VLine staff isolate to contain the spread of coronavirus.

V/Line will continue to operate a limited number of morning peak services on the Geelong lines to support essential workers traveling to and from Melbourne.

Passengers should check the VLine website for the timing of these services, remaining services will replaced by coaches today and in coming days.

Seven drivers and operational staff across several regional train services have tested positive to Cvoid-19 forcing about 300 VLine operational staff isolate to keep everyone safe, and as a result disruptions will continue for the coming days.