Apollo Bay residents follow calls to get tested

GORH nursing staff Simone Byrne and Karly Carruthers at the pop-up clinic in Apollo Bay.

GREAT Ocean Road Health (GORH) led a testing blitz in Apollo Bay after viral fragments of coronavirus were detected in the town’s wastewater.

As there were not any known COVID-19 cases in Apollo Bay, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brett Sutton urged residents “with even the mildest of symptoms” to get tested “as soon as possible.”

To enable more testing GORH opened a pop-up drive-through clinic at the Apollo Bay Golf Club.

GORH director clinical services Andrea Russell commended the Apollo Bay community for their reaction to the situation.

“The clinic was to hopefully increase testing and make it easier for people to get tested, and we did have a fantastic response with people coming forward to get tested.”

People in the local construction industry were also encouraged even if they were asymptomatic.

GORH also reported a strong response to this request, as among those tested were 16 staff from Reed Builders who were working on the Ampol service station.

Ms Russell said GORH tested “close to 200” Apollo Bay residents following the virus’ detection in the wastewater.