PAKENHAM OFFICER
pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 25 June, 2020
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Hoon hotspot frustrates residents
Blessed with cash for Covid care
Reward for teachers stepping up
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Test nightmare By Mitchell Clarke
Covid-19 testing at Pakenham Health Centre on Henty Way. 208206 king how we have hot spots and Cardinia is one of them, this freaked out an already jumpy local population,” he said. “Now everyone who sneezes or coughs runs out to get the test because of what our government have said, but they have not provided enough testing stations, they are turning people away. “If you are going to startle the easily startled population, at least be prepared for what you are asking them to do - the test.” Across the state, there are 94 fixed testing sites and 37 drive and walk-through sites. Continued on page 4
Hordes of people were sent away from the Pakenham Health Centre. 208206
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David’s daughter had the “sniffles” and was kept home from school as a precaution, but now the Pakenham man, is the one staying home. “It’s very frustrating ... my employer won’t let me back to work until I get a negative result ... problem is, I can’t get tested,” he explained. David was turned away from the Pakenham and Dandenong testing sites on Monday and again on Tuesday. He drove out to Warragul, where he was told he needed an appointment, but couldn’t book one until the end of the week. “The State Government went all out sprui-
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Securing a spot in the line at a local Covid-19 testing site has been made almost impossible, after concerned “virus hot spot” residents flock to find out if they’re carrying the virus. A young Pakenham mother was turned away from all three local testing sites, after trying to secure a test for her three-year-old child. Brittany’s child has a runny nose, with no other symptoms, but until they’ve been cleared off with a negative test, the three-yearold can’t return to childcare and she can’t return to work. She attended three separate testing sites in Pakenham, Berwick and Cranbourne on Tuesday 23 June, only to be turned away by all. “At Pakenham at 8.45am I couldn’t even get into the car park as there was someone there sending people away, giving business cards and informing them to call at lunchtime and see when they are re-opening,” she explained. “At Berwick the line was down to Clyde Road and they were sending us away and at Cranbourne, I lined up and they sent me off saying the man in front of me would be the last and gave him a sign to hold saying closed.” Brittany, who didn’t want her surname published, said it was “understandable” that childcare centres were being strict and taking precautionary action, but said the State Government needed to “ramp up” the number of testing centres. “There is such a high demand at the moment and it is neglectful of them to not be doing more to stop the spread within the community,” she said. “The most frustrating thing is they are wanting to reduce the spread of things yet people are having to go to multiple places to try and get tested. Who knows how many people who are positive are doing the same thing and risking spreading it around the community even more.” Brittany will now be forced to travel to Wonthaggi, after securing a booking at a clinic for another day. Similarly, David, who also didn’t want his surname published, is unable to return to work, until he’s returned a negative test.