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Testing milestone MORE than a quarter of a million people have been tested at Peninsula Health’s COVID-19 screening clinics since the first swab was taken in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region 18 months ago. The milestone was reached on Thursday 2 September at the health service’s drive and walk through testing site, on the old tennis courts next to Frankston Hospital. Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula now have some of the highest testing rates in Victoria. Dozens of staff – including nurses, allied health, ward clerks, security guards and traffic controllers – have run permanent and temporary locations. The mobile team has covered hundreds of kilometres since the onset of the pandemic, manning testing sites from Seaford to Portsea. COVID-19 screening clinics operations director Jodi Foley said the community had done an “amazing job” getting tested, whether it be at the earliest sign of symptoms or attending a new exposure site. “We are so proud of the efforts from everyone in Frankston and right across the peninsula who continue to come forward for a test,” she said. “Our capacity has significantly increased since we started this work just over a year and a half ago, with the scaling up of our equipment and workforce now able to take up to 2000 coronavirus tests a day. Swab test results were available in less than 24 hours. Continued Page 5
COVID driving down to the peninsula Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au A DROMANA school was last week declared a COVID-19 Tier 1 exposure site and closed for deep cleaning. It is believed a contractor who visited Peninsula Specialist College, in Old White Hill Road, introduced the virus, Wednesday 8 September. The mayor Cr Despi O’Connor said schools – especially special schools – were always at risk: “These are vulnerable kids, and their teachers can’t always wear masks because of the [children’s] disabilities. Hopefully no other cases will erupt.”
Other recent Tier 1 sites on the peninsula were BM Hall Kitchens and Cabinets, Progress Street, Mornington and Alpass and Associates in Suffolk Street, Rosebud. The infections came as visitors reportedly flocked to the peninsula in spite of the Chief Health Officer’s regulations banning travel of more than five kilometres. One disgruntled short-stay accommodation provider says rental booking sites are “flouting the law by advertising hundreds of properties for rent despite the supposed lockdown”. The provider, who asked not to be named, said their business had lost thousands [of dollars] in missed book-
ings because they were obeying the law while their competitors were “getting away with it”. The COVID-19 restriction checker website says: “Accommodation is closed, except for permitted reasons. Private and public gatherings are not allowed. No new bookings can be made, unless for a permitted reason, such as someone who requires accommodation as an authorised worker.” The provider sent The News screenshots “illustrating the problem that has continued unchecked over 200 days and six lockdowns”. “Compliant accommodation providers, like ourselves, have closed during all lockdowns and refunded guests all
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booking fees. No new bookings are allowed so there’s no availability except for essential workers. Like so many businesses we have lost thousands.” However, they claimed it was common knowledge some “tourists” were ignoring the stay-at-home rules. Online booking sites, such as Booking.com, Expedia and Wotif, all listed properties last week, with one even warning prospective guests: “If you change or cancel your booking you will not get a refund or credit to use for a future stay. This policy will apply regardless of COVID-19, subject to any local consumer laws.” Another property was offering rooms for more than $1000 a night. “What
essential worker is likely to pay that money for a room for the night … this is pure opportunism and illegal,” the provider said. “We have tried raising the issue with council and Victoria Police. The council handpasses to VicPol despite enjoying the revenue from permits from each accommodation provider. Revenue minus responsibility equals extra potential to spread the virus on the peninsula.” “Victoria Police resources are already stretched and, yes, they will take names of businesses breaking COVID-19 rules, but only one at a time. Continued Page 3
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