Comments from Chief Executive, Rohan Fitzgerald:
As of Friday evening, 34 cases of COVID-19 have been linked to a country music event at the Hamilton Golf Club on Sunday November 14.
19 of the positive cases were country music event patrons, one is a performer, four are workplace contacts, and ten are either social or household contacts of event attendees. All cases are currently isolating and being monitored at home, after three people who were hospitalised earlier this week, were discharged. Pleasingly all recent cases were at the event, or are primary close contacts of known cases.
With high testing numbers we are hopeful the outbreak will soon be under control. With over 1,800 tests carried out since this outbreak began, we can’t thank the community and our testing teams enough for their efforts. The last week has been a rollercoaster ride for the entire community. Learning to live with COVID-19 – like anything, takes a bit of getting used to. In the last week we’ve seen that our community understands that while we’re moving into the next phase of the COVID pandemic, we still need to take precautions, and do what we can to protect those at risk. Minimising transmission where we can, whether that be by getting tested when we have symptoms, wearing a mask, or practicing hand hygiene, is still vitally important. The outbreak in Hamilton has impacted a range of vulnerable groups, and we are very grateful to our community for turning out in huge numbers for testing. This has allowed us to get a good understanding of transmission across the Southern Grampians.
We have excellent vaccination rates in our region, with over 95% of people double dosed, but the reality is that some people remain vulnerable. Research tells us that vaccinations are reducing the severity of the disease and hospitalisations, which is what we have seen play out locally. We can’t emphasise enough how important it is to get a PCR test at the Showgrounds if you have symptoms.
Theatre services will return to normal from Monday.The mass-testing clinic will operate from the Hamilton Showgrounds this Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 12pm. From Monday, the drive-thru clinic will return to Hamilton Base Hospital 10am to 12pm (times may be extended based on demand).
If you are isolating and need assistance with groceries or other necessities, please call the Helping Hands hotline on 1800 943 131 between the hours of 9am and 4pm, or email helpinghands@wdhs.net
TIER 1 EXPOSURE SITE:
18/11/2021
Caledonian Hotel, 153 Thompson Street, Hamilton – 5:00pm-7:30pm
• If you are fully vaccinated – test and isolate for 7 days from the date of exposure and get a test on day 6. For the purposes of calculating the days you are required to isolate, Thursday November 18 is considered day zero. This means you must have your 2nd test on Wednesday November 24.
• If you are not fully vaccinated (12 years and older) get tested – isolate for 14 days from the date of exposure and get a test on day 13. For the purposes of calculating the days you are required to isolate, Thursday November 18 is considered day zero. This means you must have your 2nd test on Wednesday December 1.
OTHER HIGH RISK VENUES:A confirmed cases of COVID-19 attended these sites on the days / times listed below.
If you were at one of the high risk venues at these times, we strongly recommend you get tested.
18/11/2021 St Mary’s School, 48 Hiller Lane, Hamilton – outdoor basketball courts – 4pm to 5:25pm
19/11/21 Hamilton Indoor Leisure & Aquatic Centre (HILAC) – 83-93 Shakespeare Street, Hamilton- 5:50pm – 8:00pm
20/11/21 Hamilton Indoor Leisure & Aquatic Centre (HILAC), 83-93 Shakespeare Street, Hamilton – 11:18am – 12:48pm
14/11/21 The Roxburgh House, 64 Thompson Street, Hamilton – 4:00pm – 6:30pm
16/11/21 Alexandra House Sports Club, 134 Brown Street, Hamilton – 6:30pm – 8:00pm
17/11/21 Alexandra House Sports Club, 134 Brown Street, Hamilton – 12:00pm – 2:30pm
16/11/21 Freemason’s Lodge, 114 Lonsdale Street, Hamilton – 7:00pm – 11:00pm
18/11/21 Patterson Park Hall, 194 King Street, Hamilton – 1:00pm – 4:30pm
19/11/21 Woodys Café, 113 Thompson Street, Hamilton – 6:00pm – 9:00pm
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17/11/2021 Hamilton Uniting Church, 113 Lonsdale Street, Hamilton – 10:00am – 11:00am
18/11/2021 Botanical Motel, 75 French Street, Hamilton – 5:00pm – 6:05pm
18/11/2021 All Abilities Equestrian Centre, 19 Laidlaws Road, Warrong – 10:45am – 12:05pm
19/11/2021 Izzy’s Restaurant, 71 Gray Street, Hamilton – 7:30pm – 12:00pm
20/11/2021 Nutrien Ag, 58 North Boundary Road, Hamilton – 9:00am – 12pm
15/11/2021 Hamilton Medical Group, 20 Foster Street Hamilton – 10:45am – 11:10am
19/11/2021 Hamilton Medical Group, 20 Foster Street Hamilton – 11:00am – 12:00pm & 12.30pm to 2.30pm
18/11/2021 Grampians Accountancy Service, 62 Gray Street, Hamilton – 3:15pm – 3:30pm
Please note: – Exposure site management: due to our high vaccination rates we are changing the way we respond to exposure sites in the community with a focus now on Tier One sites and only high risk sites.
– Schools are not listed here as public exposure sites. If your school has advised you of a COVID exposure within the school community, we recommend you contact your school for further instructions or for any questions.
– If the Public Health Unit have all contacts of an exposure site, or if an exposure site affects staff only, the location/venue will not be listed here.
– Other high risk venues will not be listed on the Department of Health website.