BASS Coast Health has banned visitors to hospital patients after two local community transmissions of COVID-19 were recorded in the past two days with another in neighbouring South Gippsland.
BCH has put additional visitor restrictions in place across all areas and services to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering hospitals and clinics.
BCH has put additional visitor restrictions in place across all areas and services to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering hospitals and clinics.
- All routine visits to all inpatient areas are suspended.
- Patients attending the emergency department will be discouraged from bringing visitors except in exceptional circumstances.
- Patients attending outpatient or allied health appointments are not to be accompanied.
| The CEO of BCH, Jan Child, said patients were vulnerable and medical staff increasingly susceptible to contracting the virus by community transmission. She said special requests for visitation can be made to the relevant areas. If approved, they will be for very brief periods only, and for circumstances only such as end of life care or if clinically indicated. She said there were currently no COVID patients at Bass Coast Health sites (Wonthaggi Hospital or Phillip Island) and no BCH staff members have tested positive. “However, just as we predicted several days ago, there is a likelihood that our region will have positive cases now and into the future – we are not immune to community transmission. | COVID-19 TESTING The symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, and loss of sense of smell or taste. If you have even the mildest symptoms, stay at home until you can organise to be tested. Testing is available at:
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“Bass Coast Health will not always know of every positive case in Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires; in the interests of privacy and confidentiality, we will never confirm detail of cases when they do exist.”
“The health of our community is a priority during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We ask that people who are vulnerable or unwell or who have medical appointments or chronic health conditions, please continue to seek treatment and support and do not cancel appointments.
“We strongly encourage people to continue seeking healthcare and we will be diligent at keeping our services and staff safe so that you are safe to receive your care. Bass Coast Health is well prepared and we are confident that we can keep you safe.
She called on all residents to be extremely vigilant and practise social distancing by keeping at least 1.5m from others and wearing a mask when you are out and about or interacting with people.
She also called for an end to the blame game. “This is not about people who come to visit or people who live here. Everyone is vulnerable and everyone needs to do the right thing.
“Most people who become positive may have been asymptomatic, and many will not even know they have been exposed, let alone positive.
“Thank you to large majority of you who do the right thing every day, and thank you for your support to Bass Coast Health staff as we work to keep our patients, residents, staff and community safe."
“The health of our community is a priority during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We ask that people who are vulnerable or unwell or who have medical appointments or chronic health conditions, please continue to seek treatment and support and do not cancel appointments.
“We strongly encourage people to continue seeking healthcare and we will be diligent at keeping our services and staff safe so that you are safe to receive your care. Bass Coast Health is well prepared and we are confident that we can keep you safe.
She called on all residents to be extremely vigilant and practise social distancing by keeping at least 1.5m from others and wearing a mask when you are out and about or interacting with people.
She also called for an end to the blame game. “This is not about people who come to visit or people who live here. Everyone is vulnerable and everyone needs to do the right thing.
“Most people who become positive may have been asymptomatic, and many will not even know they have been exposed, let alone positive.
“Thank you to large majority of you who do the right thing every day, and thank you for your support to Bass Coast Health staff as we work to keep our patients, residents, staff and community safe."