Testing times: Benalla Health partnered with Benalla Rural City to open a second COVID-19 testing site at Benalla Showgrounds.
As of noon on Tuesday, October 26, Benalla had 17 active COVID-19 cases, having recorded 13 new cases in the past seven days.
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There have been 10 cases in the Rose City who have since recovered.
While the past week has seen Benalla hit a record number of COVID-19 cases, it has also surpassed the 80 per cent double vaccinated rate.
Benalla Rural City now has 81.9 per cent of residents aged 16 and over fully vaccinated. Only five per cent are not vaccinated at all.
While it is possible for a fully vaccinated person to get COVID-19, the effects are much less severe than for those who are not vaccinated.
As of Sunday, October 24, only seven per cent of people in intensive care in Victoria with COVID-19 were double vaccinated.
Busy: Benalla Health staff at the showgrounds COVID-19 testing site on Tuesday, October 26.
In the past seven days Benalla has seen two local businesses listed as COVID-19 exposure sites, and a local school campus had to close for a few days after a positive case visited.
One of the business in question, Fobia Industries Benalla, located at 123-125 Bridge St, has since been told it is able to re-open.
However the Department of Health is asking anyone who attended on the following dates to get a COVID-19 test immediately and quarantine for seven days from the day of exposure if fully vaccinated, or 14 days if not.
Tuesday, October 12 from 6am to 4pm;
Wednesday, October 13 from 6am to 4pm;
Thursday, October 14 from 6am to 4pm;
Friday, October 15 from 6am to 4pm;
Monday, October 18 from 6am to 4pm; and
Tuesday, October 19 from 6am to 4pm.
The business owner has confirmed the exposure site relates to Fobia Industries, not Zeus Coffee Co cafe. If you just visited the cafe you do not need to get tested and isolate.
The second Tier-1 exposure site is Amcal+ Pharmacy at 27-29 Bridge St, Benalla.
If you visited the pharmacy between 4pm and 5pm on Tuesday, October 19 you need to get a COVID-19 test immediately and quarantine for seven days from the exposure if you are fully vaccinated, or 14 days if you are not.
Business owner Lisa Marta said all staff had returned a negative COVID-19 test and the pharmacy had been able to stay open.
There was a scare for the Benalla P-12 College community last week after it was confirmed that a COVID-19 positive case had visited its Clarke St Campus on October 14 and 15.
Principal Tony Clarke penned a letter to parents confirming the campus would be closed on Friday, October 22.
“The campus will be closed ... as a precaution to identify students or staff who may have had contact with the case,” the letter read.
The letter went on to confirm that once contact tracing was complete, the school or the Department of Health would contact parents to let them know if their child was a primary contact.
Following an investigation and deep clean the campus was able to re open on Monday, October 25.
The best way to protect yourself, your family and community is to get vaccinated.
You can book a vaccination at a local pharmacy or clinic.
It is also important to follow restrictions while they are still in place.
You can do your bit by checking-in and wearing masks in public places, while socially distancing and regularly washing or sanitising your hands.
In order to be effective a mask must cover your mouth and nose.
Benalla Health has been operating two COVID-19 testing sites this week.
The Benalla Health Fever Clinic is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 6pm and Saturday and Sunday from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. It is located outside the Urgent Care Centre.
Benalla Health encourages people to book for a test prior to coming to the fever clinic, which will help reduce waiting times. This can be done by phoning for an appointment on 5761 4284.
Benalla Health has also partnered with Benalla Rural City to open a second testing site at Benalla Showgrounds. This is a drive-in clinic with no bookings necessary, open from 9am to 5pm. Benalla Health is operating the clinic on a day-by-day basis depending on demand and case numbers. You can check if the clinic is open by visiting @benallahealth on Facebook.
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