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HAND IN HAND FATHER and son team Lachlan and Jonathan Steele each put their head on the chopping block last week at Mansfield Primary School for the World’s Greatest Shave. More photos on page 6. PHOTO: Billie Leatham
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Worst hit by virus Mansfield Shire identified as the highest g number of COVID cases in Victoria p per capita p RECENT data has identified Mansfield as the worst hit local government area in Victoria for COVID-19, with the shire returning the highest rate per capita for infections and active cases. Before the Easter holidays began, Mansfield’s active cases equated to 1536.6 COVID-positive residents for every 100,000, and with tourism set to increase over the coming weeks so too
BY EMMA OLIVER eoliver@ nemedia.com.au
might infections. “It’s not easy to give a definitive reason for the high rate of infection, but of course being a high volume tourist area there is that increased risk, especially when that is coupled with the easing of restrictions around things like mask wearing and large
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gatherings and events,” said Cameron Butler, Mansfield District Hospital (MDH) chief executive officer. Mansfield’s infection rate is significantly higher than other local government areas - even surpassing Melbourne - with Glenelg on the South Australian border returning the second highest rate. When looking at postcodes, residents with a 3722 postcode returned higher infection rates than
our neighbours at over 1.8 per cent compared to say about 1.2 per cent for 3723. Michelle Condie, the MDH pandemic co-ordinator, said that the majority of positive test results declared were from Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs), rather than PCR tests. “At the beginning of the year due to the shortage of Rapid Antigen Tests, most of the positive results came from PCR tests,” said Ms Condie.
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“Omicron BA.1 was identified as the dominant strain.” However, with two out of every three positive results now determined by RATs, the dominant strain of COVID-19 is not being officially identified. “We are of the view that like the rest of Victoria Omicron BA.2 is the most common at the moment,” said Ms Condie. “With this variant, cold
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and flu-like symptoms remain prevalent, however, we are also seeing more gastrointestinal upsets. “Given the high percentage of the community who are fully vaccinated, presenting symptoms are less severe, but this is no reason to be complacent about getting tested or seeking treatment. “We are now urging the community to be vaccinated against influenza. ■ Continued page 3
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