AFTER a challenging 12 months, Victoria has recorded no locally acquired COVID-19 cases on the one-year anniversary since the pandemic first entered the state.<\/p>\n
Last week marked one year since the first case that later fuelled a long battle endured by Victorians.<\/p>\n
The state now faces a more positive outcome with 27 days of no locally acquired cases at the time of print, however data obtained from Australian Government Department of Health shows the difference a year can make.<\/p>\n
Victoria reported a total of 20,449 cases during the past year and attributed 820 COVID-19 related deaths, 89 less than the country’s total.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the 12 months since the first COVID-19 case, Barwon Health CEO Frances Diver believes Victorians should be proud of their progress.<\/p>\n
“It is clear that the actions taken across our region have played a critical role in making sure that Geelong avoided stage 4 restrictions that took place in Melbourne,” she said.<\/p>\n
“Everyone in the community should be proud of their efforts to contain outbreaks.”<\/p>\n
At the centre of the pandemic are the healthcare workers and providers who continue to adapt to the health recommendations of government bodies.<\/p>\n
“Our staff have made a lot of adjustments, it’s been impressive to see the way people have responded so quickly to each challenge,” Ms Diver said.<\/p>\n
“Barwon Health has been in a fortunate position where we can provide testing and contact tracing, as well as admitting people to hospital and supporting them in their homes.”<\/p>\n
During the height of the second wave, Barwon Health offered five testing sites around the community, with only two still available following the decline in active cases.<\/p>\n
Throughout Greater Geelong, a total of 365 cases were reported in the 12-month period and 14 cases across the Surf Coast region.<\/p>\n
These numbers come as the global tally reaches over 103.4 million cases and more than 2.2 million deaths since December 2019.<\/p>\n
Barwon Health’s tracing and monitoring teams will now look towards the vaccination rollout for the Barwon South West region under the new regional Public Health unit.<\/p>\n
Ms Diver said more health areas have been earmarked for future developments of the vaccine rollout.<\/p>\n
The Pfizer vaccine will begin being administered to up to five million Australians later this month including those living or working in aged care, hotel quarantine and frontline health workers.<\/p>\n
“Thanks to the excellent public health response that has controlled the virus locally, we can afford to take the time to plan and rollout our vaccination program in a safe and controlled way,” she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER a challenging 12 months, Victoria has recorded no locally acquired COVID-19 cases on the one-year anniversary since the pandemic first entered the state. Last week marked one year since the first case that later fuelled a long battle endured by Victorians. The state now faces a more positive outcome with 27 days of no […]<\/p>\n