RURAL City of Wangaratta COVID–19 infections have risen by 1993 new cases since the start of winter, with 279 active as of yesterday – a total of 9155 since the pandemic began.
The peak in active COVID infections locally was on May 20 this year when 427 cases were recorded, but a steady decline in active cases continued until June 23 before steadily rising again.
Northeast Health Wangaratta (NHW) currently has 15 patients with COVID–19 in quarantine, with the statewide hospitalisations at 869 as of yesterday.
Management at NHW have been revising internal systems and processes since both Code Yellow and Code Brown were initiated earlier this year.
"There are a number of elements that would trigger an organisation–wide emergency response," a NHW spokesperson explained.
Latest Stories
"Many factors including patient demand, staff availability, ambulance arrivals, COVID and respiratory illness case numbers and business and capacity of neighbouring hospitals can all influence how the health service responds at any point in time.
"Since experiencing both Code Yellow and Code Brown earlier this year NHW has been revising systems and processes to enable more timely responses and actions in response to increases in demand so that the calling of a Code Yellow is the final step.
"We're taking proactive steps such as temporarily reducing visitor numbers to minimise the risk of spread of respiratory illnesses to patients and staff."
The number of people allowed to visit patients and accompany adult clients has been decreased to one (previously two).
Visiting hours are 12 noon–2pm and 5pm–7pm daily.
It's a temporary reduction in the number of visitors that will be in place until the end of August.
NHW chief executive officer Libby Fifis said they've been planning for the expected surge in cases of COVID–19 and other respiratory illnesses.
Daily case numbers across the Rural City of Wangaratta since Monday last week have included 52, 53, 55, 65, 57, 47, 25, 44 and 49 yesterday, according to COVID LIVE.
Across the North East in the last 24 hours until yesterday morning: Benalla had 33 new cases for a total of 147 actives cases; Alpine had 27 cases (159 active cases); Indigo 31 cases (152 active cases); Mansfield 25 cases (76 active cases); Moira 41 cases (286 active cases); and Wodonga 88 (546 cases).
Across the state there were 12,009 new cases reported yesterday, with 40 deaths, taking total lives lost since the pandemic began to 4401 deaths in Victoria, with 2790 this year.
The NHW Screening Clinic at 53–61 Tone Road is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am–11am (enter drive–through from Vincent Road).
For information about vaccinations visit https://covid–vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking.
