Bass Coast residents and visitors can minimise the spread of the highly infectious subvariant of COVID-19 these April school holidays and Easter long weekend.
The BA.2 subvariant is up to 70 per cent more contagious than the original BA.1 Omicron strain, and we’re likely to see a peak in the current surge of cases from this Easter long weekend through to the end of April – including the school holidays – as people interact more and an influx of tourists arrive.
Being positive with COVID requires people to isolate which can interfere with plans they and their families may have. The good news is that we all have the ability to reduce our risk of catching and spreading COVID – and containing the surge. Moreover, we can all play a part in stopping the spread to vulnerable community members who could be one of those people hit hard and needing hospital or ICU.
According to Jan Child, CEO Bass Coast Health, “Simple measures like wearing a proper fitting mask, staying at home and getting tested if you have symptoms, and avoiding crowded places, can mean the difference between getting COVID or being able to enjoy the school holidays with your family.
“The most important prevention however, is for everyone to ensure their vaccination status is up-to-date which includes the third dose. If you’re eligible for a fourth winter booster, please get it.
“These groups include adults aged 65 years and older, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 50, and people aged 16 years and older who are severely immunocompromised."
Ms Child is pleased to see more people receiving a booster in our region, with data from the Department of Health on 6 April showing that up to 75 per cent of the eligible population in Cowes had received a third dose, 75 per cent in Wonthaggi, 80 per cent of Inverloch and San Remo, and around 55 per cent in Bass and Coronet Bay.
“It’s also pleasing to see a slight increase in vaccination among 5-11-year-olds in the Bass Coast Shire but many areas are still too low,” Ms Child said.
According to the Department of Health, as of 6 April, up to 45 per cent of Wonthaggi children aged 5-11 had received a first dose and up to 25 per cent a
second dose. In mid-March, 15 per cent of Wonthaggi children had had a second dose. In Inverloch, up to 60 per cent have had a first dose and up to 35 per cent a second, an increase from 20 per cent for a second dose in mid-March. In the San Remo postcode, up to 70 per cent of children have now received a first dose and up to 45 per cent a second, a rise from 25 per cent in mid-March.
In Cowes, up to 55 per cent have had their first dose and up to 30 per cent a second. In Bass and Coronet Bay, up to 60 per cent had received a first dose and up to 25 per cent a second, an increase from 15 per cent.
“Whilst we are all over the Pandemic, the Pandemic itself is still not over and we must keep trying to prevent hospitalisations and death. Too many people die every day from COVID and many are preventable through vaccination. If you do one thing these holidays, please, get vaccinated," Ms Child said.