Mail - Upper Yarra Star Mail - 20th October 2020

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Upper Yarra

Tuesday, 20 October, 2020

Mail

Tribute to our health heroes

Homelessness on the rise

Black panther search

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A Star News Group Publication

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We’re Covid free! By Jed Lanyon

Healesville Primary School student, Nate, jumps with joy along with his fellow students and principal Tracey Robertson-Smith as the Shire of Yarra Ranges records zero active Covid-19 cases. Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS Despite reaching zero cases, Ms Gaskell urged locals to remain vigilant when it comes to containing the coronavirus. “It’s very important because obviously we know one case can multiply very quickly. We don’t want a third wave, we want people to get back to a normal life as soon as possible and that’s why it’s extremely important to get tested if you have the symptoms.” Continued page 3

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aged care or residential warding houses. We’ve done a lot of work caring for the people inside and supporting staff. “Our comms teams have done a lot of work on social media with their Covid safe messaging and letting people know where to get tested and access services.” A shift to ‘telehealth’ for specialist care has allowed patients to receive advice and support from the comfort of their home.

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Eastern Health’s Covid Pathways Project saw the organisation partner with community health providers to support people with things like shopping or helping them get medication. “That’s been a really important form of support so people don’t have to leave their homes,” Ms Gaskell said. “A big piece of work Eastern Health has done in Lilydale is supporting outbreak management, where there has been outbreaks in

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The Shire of Yarra Ranges has recorded zero active Covid-19 cases, marking a significant local milestone in the long fight to contain the coronavirus outbreak in Victoria. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recorded zero active coronavirus cases in the Yarra Ranges on Sunday 18 October, encompassing areas from Yarra Glen to Chirnside Park, Warburton to Kilsyth being free of the virus. It’s been a difficult year for Victorians as Covid-19 cases broke out of control across the state leading to harsh restrictions enacted in an effort to suppress the virus. But now Yarra Ranges joins five other Metropolitan Melbourne local government areas to reach zero active cases, with neighboring councils, Maroondah, Cardinia and Nillumbik all reaching the mark in the outer east. The other two being Kingston and Mornington Peninsula. Eastern Health’s Clinical Director Ambulatory Care, Dr Penny Gaskell said reaching zero cases was “very exciting” and a “huge achievement” considering active cases in the Yarra Ranges had peaked at 140 on 6-7 July. The region has experienced a total of 251 cases to date. “I say that with a level of cautious optimism because of course we want to maintain this level,” she said. “We want to encourage people to still get tested and we don’t want to be complacent. “It’s great work by the community for following all the harsh restrictions and for taking care of each other. “Thank you to everybody for sticking with it and doing the best they can, it has to be a community and team effort to beat this thing.” Ms Gaskell spoke about Eastern Health’s strong presence in the region, citing that healthcare workers had to be flexible in the ways we adapt to the pandemic. The work of Eastern Health has seen swabbing clinics set up in towns as well as mobile testing clinics for those who are vulnerable or couldn’t make it to Lilydale or Healesville.


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