Mildura’s COVID cases jump

MILDURA recorded 30 new COVID-19 cases at the weekend as early findings suggest Omicron is the dominant variant in Victoria.

Twenty-four cases were recorded in Mildura on Saturday and a further six on Sunday to take Mildura LGA’s total number of active cases to 114

Robinvale, which recorded its first death due to COVID on Friday, had three new positive cases taking its total of active cases to 13.

Across the state, there were 7172 new COVID-19 infections and three deaths.

Results from samples collected over Christmas indicated that 76 per cent of cases in Victoria were of the Omicron variant, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Health.

Further testing will be completed over the next week to confirm the finding that Omicron is the dominant variant.

Sunraysia Community Health Service’s pop-up testing clinic resumed service on Sunday, and is open Monday from 10am to 2pm, while Barratt & Smith Pathology reopens Tuesday at 8am.

While the total active case numbers for Mildura LGA have remained relatively stable, Mildura Base Public Hospital (MBPH) chief executive Terry Welch said the hospital had averaged six new COVID-related admissions per day, including its Hospital in the Home patients.

Mr Welch said the hospital had beds available and although there had been no impact on urgent or semi-urgent procedures, it had made changes to its face-to-face delivery.

“We have also had to adapt our delivery of face-to-face services which has meant moving to a more predominant Telehealth model for one-on-one appointments,” Mr Welch said.

According to the Department of Health, Ranfurly Primary School remains the site in Mildura LGA with largest number of linked active cases, at 11.