Robinvale woman loses COVID-19 fight

A ROBINVALE woman’s death this week is the town’s first known COVID-19 fatality.

Robinvale District Health Services’ COVID officer Anita Erlandsen said the organisation was made aware of the death on Tuesday.

Ms Erlandsen said it was not confirmed to RDHS whether the woman was vaccinated or suffering from any underlying health conditions.

She said the woman was in Melbourne’s intensive care unit when she died and was one of four Robinvale people who had been transported to intensive care units in either Bendigo or Melbourne.

Ms Erlandsen said there were more people in Robinvale seeking tests than the RDHS could cope with. She advised people to be patient.

“We have assistance coming from Bendigo Health,” she said.

Ms Erlandsen said three helpers were on their way to Robinvale and more would arrive on Tuesday next week.

Robinvale recorded two new cases yesterday, bringing the total number of active cases to 29.

Mildura recorded 24 new cases, taking the total number of active cases to 126.

Victoria reported 5135 new infections, taking the number of total active cases to 23,833.

The latest round of cases comes as national cabinet slashed isolation periods for positive cases and close contacts on Thursday.

The isolation period for all COVID cases, regardless of vaccination status, will be seven days from the date of the positive test.

Household contacts who have stayed in the same household for more than four hours with a confirmed case must quarantine for seven days after exposure regardless of vaccination status.

However, South Australia will continue with a 10-day quarantine period for positive cases and close contacts.

Other contacts who might have been exposed are to monitor for symptoms and take a rapid antigen test or PCR test if symptoms occur.

The State Government recently announced that 34 million rapid antigen tests will be distributed to Victorians by the end of January.

However, the Federal Government will not be providing further rapid antigen tests.

There will be no PCR testing options on New Year’s Day, but Sunraysia Community Health Service will open its pop-up clinic Sunday and Monday from 10am to 2pm. Barratt & Smith Pathology will reopen for testing 8am Tuesday.

Mallee District Aboriginal Services will resume testing for people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds on Tuesday from 9am to 5pm.