THE Surf Coast\u2019s medical leaders have banded together to offer regular advice and updates on the coronavirus pandemic via an online platform.<\/p>\n
Health practitioners and pharmacists from Torquay to Anglesea are among those involved in @torquay_covid19_support<\/strong>, a Facebook and Instagram handle set up by Dr Caroline Taylor-Walker of Surf Coast Home Doctor.<\/p>\n Dr Taylor-Walker said the account offered people a sense of connection to their local area; something that could not be achieved in the delivery of information from the federal and state governments.<\/p>\n She said it also served as a place where people could interact and ask questions they felt had not been answered.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hotlines are national and state hotlines and wait times can be up to two hours. People feel disconnected from that because they can\u2019t ask questions.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s scared and fearful of doing the wrong thing.\u201d<\/p>\n Dr Taylor-Walker said the weekend\u2019s announcement of venue closures across the country was a positive outcome in slowing down the virus and that practitioners had been advocating for this result for some time.<\/p>\n As of Tuesday this week, the Department of Health and Human Services recorded 10 cases in greater Geelong and two on the Surf Coast.<\/p>\n Dr Taylor-Walker said it was not yet clear where the virus was contracted.<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as I\u2019m aware, it\u2019s not related to any local practices in Torquay or Jan Juc.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really sensible to isolate and we\u2019re in a great position at the moment. Our numbers are really low compared to other countries.<\/p>\n \u201cThe most important thing is social distancing. You have to assume you have the coronavirus and you don\u2019t have symptoms and that everyone else has the coronavirus and doesn\u2019t have symptoms \u2013 that\u2019s the way we\u2019re going to protect ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n