Tate Papworth
Twenty-four Sunshine Hospital staff are in isolation after a patient who underwent emergency surgery later tested positive for COVID-19.
The patient presented to the hospital for emergency surgery and had no known risk factors or any symptoms of COVID-19.
But the patient later developed a mild cough and was tested for COVID-19, returning a positive result.
Western Heath said impacted staff self-isolated as a precaution and testing is underway.
Brimbank now has a total of 33 confirmed cases as of Thursday.
It follows the Victorian Government’s announcement of a massive expansion of testing.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton urged anyone in doubt to get tested.
“Up to 100,000 Victorians will be tested for coronavirus over the next two weeks as part of a major testing blitz across the state,” professor Brett Sutton said.
“Victorians have done a remarkable job sticking to the coronavirus restrictions, and by staying home have saved lives. We are now asking Victorians to again play their part and get tested if they have symptoms, because the more tests we do, the more data we have about the prevalence of coronavirus in the community.
“People with even the mildest of symptoms including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose or loss of sense of smell are encouraged to get tested.”
Last week, the government rolled out 10 new mobile testing sites at Watergardens Town Centre, Bunnings West Footscray, Pacific Werribee, Pacific Epping, Westfield Fountain Gate, Bayside Shopping Centre in Frankston, Chadstone, Highpoint, Doncaster, and Northland shopping centres.
Additional sites in regional and suburban locations will come online in the coming days.
The testing sites will be manned by doctors, nurses and pathology collection staff.
People need to bring their Medicare card, or at least one form of identification when attending a testing station.
