THE number of COVID-19 cases in Mildura’s Indigenous community is “rapidly increasing” amid calls for the community to be kind and support each other.
Mildura recorded a further four positive cases of COVID-19 yesterday taking the total number of active cases in the region to nine — the highest number of cases at the same time since the pandemic began 18 months ago.
Coomealla High School closed its doors yesterday after two students were among four people from Dareton to test positive for the virus and 60 staff at Mildura Base Public Hospital went into isolation after a patient, who had been in the facility for two days later, tested positive.
It is understood that the latest outbreak is at least partly linked to a group of people who travelled from Wilcannia to Mildura and subsequently returned a positive result.
About 150 people from a population base of 745 people have so far contracted COVID-19 in Wilcannia, where more than 60 per cent of the population is Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
Victoria’s COVID Commander Jeroen Weimar this week indicated there had been some “cross-border associations” linked to the current Mildura outbreak.
Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) responded to the outbreak by establishing a Indigenous-only testing clinic near its Madden Avenue headquarters, while a team from Bendigo Health was dispatched to staff a public testing facility at the Aerodrome Ovals which will operate for the remainder of this week.
Walk-in vaccinations were also offered to members of the Indigenous community with no appointment required.
MDAS strategic advisor Darlene Thomas said it was vital to identify the virus and stop the spread following “an increase in positive results in our mob”.
“We all need to wrap around to support each other to do that,” Ms Thomas said.
“We want to protect our community the best way that we can,” she said.
“It’s our elderly and vulnerable people that we are trying to protect from being hospitalised and I know that we all care about our mob and we don’t want to see people get sick.”
Ms Thomas said now was the time of the region’s Indigenous community to pull together and do the right thing and get tested and/or vaccinated.
“We have seen people be nasty towards other people that have been tested and have been in communities,” she said.
“Sometimes people don’t know that they are positive and they don’t know that they are spreading the virus, so it’s really important for us to stick together and support each other … rather than point at people and judge.
“Sometimes people have the virus and unknowingly spread it — it’s not their fault, so let’s wrap around and support each other, show kindness and get vaccinated.”
Ms Thomas urged members of the Indigenous community who have symptoms or you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, to get tested and then isolate until they get their results.
“We’re wanting to support those that need to be isolated — isolate properly to also stop the spread … that’s the most important message,” she said.
“If your test comes back as positive, please reach out, we’re more than happy to help with dropping off some food, having a chat if you’re isolating by yourself, supporting your family, support you through isolation.
“If you don’t have any symptoms it’s really important that you get vaccinated … I can’t stress that enough.”
MDAS CEO Jacki Turfrey urged the community to support those who need to isolate by showing love and compassion.
“This virus isn’t something that people spread intentionally — it is something that happens and sometimes people are unaware they are spreading it to others,” she said.
“Let’s show support and kindness rather than discriminating and pushing our mob away.
“It’s times like this where we need to support and encourage each other.”
NSW Police said members at Wilcannia were “not aware of any breaches or fines relating to Mildura”.
They failed to answer any questions related to measures NSW Police were taking to ensure those from restricted areas, or had travelled through hot spots, did not enter Mildura.
