News blog, January 28: Fire at old Mooroopna hospital being treated as suspicious; Greater Shepp recorded 77 COVID-19 cases

It’s forecast to get a bit wild out there, with a top temperature of 34 degrees.

UPDATE, 4.20 pm: Friday arvo early mark

Clocking off from the news blog 10 minutes earlier than normal for a well deserved weekend.

Stay safe out there and we’ll be back with a wrap of the weekend news on Monday.

UPDATE, 4.15 pm: Benalla’s Becky Webster is making waves at Kardinia Park

Football has always been in the blood of Benalla product Becky Webster, writes sports reporter Zac Standish.

Growing up kicking the footy in the backyard with her brother, she always dreamed of being able to play the game she loved on the national stage and follow in the footsteps of the AFL idols she idolised on TV.

This was a dream many young girls thought was out of reach, but Webster recalls always having faith that one day she would reach the big time.

“I remember one conversation with my brother thinking they will have to let the girls play in the AFL competition one day, that was definitely my thinking at the time,” Webster said.

Read the full story here.

UPDATE 4 pm: Six thousand trout cod released into the Goulburn River

Anglers rejoice: more than 6000 trout cod fish were released into the Goulburn River near Trawool on Wednesday, January 19.

The threatened fish – often mistaken for Murray Cod due to their similar appearance – were bred and released by the Victorian Fisheries Authority as part of restocking efforts.

VFA fisheries manager John Douglas said the goal was to establish a self-sustaining population.

“We’ve bought back a population in the Ovens River and we brought back a population downstream in the Goulburn River near Nagambie,” he said.

“Now we want to get another population if we can, near Trawool.”

The aim is to eventually get the population to a point where they can be fished.

Read the full story here.

UPDATE, 2.10 pm: Fire at the old Mooroopna hospital being investigated

Police are asking anyone that witnessed a fire at the old Mooroopna Hospital on Thursday, January 27 to come forward.

Shepparton Detective Senior Constable Andrew Costello said the blaze started at the McLennan St address at about 8.30 pm.

Two palm trees near the building were burnt before the fire was contained, Detective Sen Const Costello said.

The fire was extinguished before the building caught alight.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire, and are treating it as suspicious.

If anyone witnessed the fire, or has information or dash-cam footage of the incident, contact Shepparton Police on 5820 5777 or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

You can also submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

UPDATE, 12.30 pm: When can I get my booster?

We're seeing a bit of confusion about when a booster dose is due for people who have recovered from COVID-19.

In general, the interval between second and third doses in Victoria is three months.

For someone who has just has COVID-19, the Australian Department of Health advises that vaccination can be deferred for up to four months, as past infection reduces the chance of reinfection for at least this amount of time.

However, there is no requirement to delay vaccination, and as I mentioned earlier, Australian government’s chief nursing and midwifery officer Adjunct Professor Alison McMillan said those who have had COVID-19 should get their booster as soon as symptoms subside.

If a patient tests positive for COVID-19 between their first and second doses, or between their second and booster dose, the patient should delay the next dose until they have recovered from the acute illness.

People with prolonged symptoms from COVID-19 beyond four months should be vaccinated on a case-by-case basis.

You can read the latest guidelines from the federal Department of Health here.

UPDATE 12.15 pm: Local COVID-19 numbers

Greater Shepparton recorded 77 new cases of coronavirus today.

The number of active cases in the local government area has dropped to 366.

Campaspe recorded 20 new cases overnight, Moira Shire recorded seven. Their respective caseloads are now 104 and 84.

In Strathbogie, there are three new cases and Benalla has recorded one.

UPDATE, 11.35 am: Sheed calls for Victorian government to support Med-Con

Journalist Anna McGuinness writes State Member from Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the Victorian government to support Lemnos medical supply manufacturer Med-Con.

Med-Con has significantly cut down on staff and production since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling in a competitive market with overseas imports and other Australian manufacturers.

In August 2021, Ms Sheed called on the federal, state and territory health ministers to support the local manufacturer.

“When the pandemic started in early 2020, Med-Con was the only Australian medical mask manufacturer,” Ms Sheed said.

And she’s once again asked the state government to back the manufacturer.

Read the full story here.

UPDATE, 10.25 am: Pfizer COVID-19 boosters approved for teens

Teenagers will soon be able to get a COVID-19 booster shot after the medical regulator granted provisional approval for the Pfizer vaccine.

Previously, only people 18 years and older had been able to get a booster shot.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration said dosing for 16 and 17-year-olds will be the same as boosters used in adult populations.

Also, the Australian government’s chief nursing and midwifery officer Adjunct Professor Alison McMillan told reporters this morning people who have had COVID-19 should get their booster as soon as their symptoms subside.

“We know that an initial infection does potentially provide you with a small amount of protection from COVID, but we really don’t yet know how much,” the Adjunct Professor said.

UPDATE, 9.30 am: Victoria records 39 COVID-19 deaths, hospitalisations below 1k

In the latest reporting period, the Victorian Department of Health has reported 39 COVID-19 related deaths and 12,755 new cases.

There are 988 people in hospital with the virus, 114 of those are in ICU and 40 people are ventilated.

There are now 101,605 active cases of coronavirus in the state.

UPDATE, 9.15 am: Have you seen Kiza?

Police are asking for public assistance to help locate missing Shepparton man Kiza.

The 20-year-old was last seen in Shepparton on Thursday, January 27.

Kiza’s family said his disappearance is out of character and that he requires regular medication.

Police have released an image of Kiza in the hope someone recognises him and can provide information on his whereabouts.

Anyone with information that could help are urged to contact Shepparton Police on 5820 5777.

UPDATE, 9.10 am: Shepparton Hotel receives demolition order

The derelict Shepparton Hotel is being demolished under an order issued by Greater Shepparton City Council.

Additional fencing and hoardings bearing the name of a demolition company appeared in recent days and the electronic sign, which also has a controversial history, was removed on Wednesday as contractors moved in.

The hotel has been derelict since a fire ripped through it in 2007.

The council confirmed in a statement on Thursday that it had issued a 90-day demolition order for the building.

“An Emergency Order has been issued in accordance with the Building Act for full demolition of the Shepparton Hotel. Due to privacy reasons, council officers are unable to comment further at this stage,” the statement read.