New COVID-19 respiratory clinic opens in Ocean Grove

A TEMPORARY federally-funded COVID-19 respiratory clinic opened in Ocean Grove last week.

The Bellarine Respiratory Clinic, which has been established by Epichealth, is part of the Morrison Government’s $2.4 billion health package to respond to the coronavirus pandemic.

The appointment-only respiratory clinic at 27 Guthridge St will operate Monday to Friday between 9am and 12.30pm.

It is in addition to Kardinia Health’s respiratory clinic, which opened several weeks ago.

COVID-19 testing is also being carried out at Barwon Health’s University Hospital Building B in Geelong and Barwon Health North in Norlane.

The Victorian Government’s testing blitz – in which anyone can be tested even when they feel well and do not have symptoms of coronavirus – ends today.

Epichealth acting chief executive officer Jeremy Forrester said the clinic had a soft opening on Thursday and tested 30 people just on Friday morning.

“We certainly didn’t expect that many this quickly, but what we have seen up in Kardinia Health and Barwon North is that there’s been an explosion in testing in the past two weeks.”

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson visited the clinic on Friday and welcomed the first testing site on the Bellarine Peninsula.

“The Morrison Government has been working with Epichealth and Western Victoria Primary Health Network to roll out the new Ocean Grove clinic.

“Our government has invested $207 million to establish some 100 respiratory clinics across Australia, including in rural and regional areas in each state and territory.

“Another 200 fever clinics, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State and Territory governments, are also in operation across Australia.”