Limestone Coast remains free of virus as test demand soars

Covid Line  TBW Newsgroup
TESTING BOOST: The line-up at the Mount Gambier Hospital's COVID-19 testing station remained steady last week as the region surged towards 10,000 tests. Picture: TODD LEWIS
Covid Line TBW Newsgroup
TESTING BOOST: The line-up at the Mount Gambier Hospital’s COVID-19 testing station remained steady last week as the region surged towards 10,000 tests. Picture: TODD LEWIS

THE Limestone Coast remains free of COVID-19, despite a recent influx of testing at the Mount Gambier Hospital triggered by the escalating situation in Victoria.

South Australia currently has eight active cases – zero in the last three days – and not one is linked to the Limestone Coast region.

The absence of the virus in the community comes despite the Limestone Coast Health Network (LCHN) reaching the milestone of 10,000 tests in the region over the weekend.

A health network spokesperson thanked the community for following the health advice in a post on social media.

“We reached a big milestone over the weekend – we have now conducted over 10,000 COVID-19 tests across the Limestone Coast,” the post read “Thank you to our community for continuing to follow health advice and get tested and to the testing staff working incredibly hard to manage increasing demand.”

It comes as Victoria recorded a further 322 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday as it continues to try and suppress the second wave of the virus.

Just across the border in the Glenelg Shire Council there remains 15 active cases and Portland District Health announced two new cases on Saturday.

While the situation in Victoria remains delicate, it has not triggered a knee-jerk reaction from the South Australian Government with Premier Marshall announcing no new restrictions following National Cabinet on Friday.

However, he did not rule out the imposition of more restrictions in the future.

“I do emphasise that we are constantly looking at the level of restrictions we have in place in South Australia, making sure they are commensurate with the risk and we know that it is a worrying risk directly across the border,” Mr Marshall said.

“The transition committee is looking at issues like density, home gatherings, churches, the fitness sector, borders and our aged care facilities.”

Mr Marshall also praised South Australians for continuing to get tested when symptoms present themselves.

“We are very, very impressed with the way people are going to have their COVID-19 test when they have symptoms,” he said.

“We are also delighted with the compliance checks which are being done on people who are required to be in isolation.”

However, he warned against complacency in the coming weeks.

“One of the issues that we do need to be aware of though is complacency,” he said.

“It is fair to say we will take a very dim view of people who do not do the right thing.”