Deep cleaning is underway and there have been long waits for tests following the listing of 10 COVID-19 exposure sites in Wangaratta.
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An additional testing clinic at the Wangaratta showgrounds opened at midday to cater for demand after a COVID-positive man attended the city's emergency department on Monday night, having been infectious in the community.
Northeast Health Wangaratta acting chief executive Robyn Gillis said there were delays this morning at testing sites.
"We're naturally concerned that we've had a positive case in our community, and we've had over 10 tier-two sites in our community, so it's really an opportunity for everybody to come forward if you've attended the those tier-two sites ... test, and isolate until you get clearance with a negative result," she said.
"We did experience excessive wait times this morning; we've had over 190 people through already."
Ms Gillis said there weren't issues with testing capacity but noted Northeast Health would seek support from other health services.
"No, I think what happened is we've had a fantastic response from our community and they have turned out, and the wait was excessive," she said.
"So we've acted on that rapidly and we're opening the show grounds ."
"We would expect large numbers of our community to require testing, so that's why we've asked for support from our regional partners, and from Metro Melbourne to help us set up more swabbing centres."
The Local Public Health Unit, connected to Albury Wodonga Health, is responsible for contact tracing while Northeast Health is undertaking testing.
The LPHU has identified exposure sites for the city's supermarkets, Officeworks and Supercheap Auto; at the latter location, contractors were undertaking deep cleaning at midday on Wednesday.
Kmart Wangaratta was also this afternoon added as an exposure site.
Ms Gillis said it was not yet known where the man contracted the virus from or what his current condition was.
"He was symptomatic and the team absolutely treated him as a suspect COVID patient; they isolated him immediately and swabbed immediately," she said.
"We take a very conservative approach for any of our staff and patients in that area, and we have asked them to isolate and swab, just as an added precaution, but we were aware that this patient was suspect COVID and they were handled appropriately and safely.
"Approximately a dozen staff members are isolated at the moment and awaiting their test results.
"We do notify everybody who has been at the ED ... we don't believe there's been an interaction as such (between the man and others in the ED), but we're being really cautious."
Ms Gillis said the showgrounds testing site would remain open and testing hours there would be extended to 8pm.
"We have had a positive case in our community so it's really important that we stay alert," she said.
"We are asking a large amount of our community to get tested, who have been to those sites.
"What's really important is if you experience any of the symptoms, we also ask you to come forward.
"COVID could be in our community, we need to be alert and I need everyone in Wangaratta to respond appropriately."
In the Victorian state COVID update, Deputy Chief Health Officer Deb Friedman said they believe the Wangaratta case acquired its infection in Melbourne.
Albury Wodonga Health executive director of public health Lucie Shanahan said the number of close contacts were still being determined.
"We understand he presented to hospital because of the flu-like symptoms - he became symptomatic and he obviously was aware that he had been in Melbourne and as a consequence of that he went to hospital for testing and for clinical care," she said.
"At this stage there are no further known positive cases, but as we have commenced contact tracing yesterday and we're continuing to work through that it is possible that there will be more exposure sites and it is possible that there will be more positive cases identified."
Appin Street Fish and Chips, 69 Appin Street
September 19, 7:10pm - 8:30pm
Coles Wangaratta, Ryley Street
September 19, 8.00-8.50pm
Target, Ovens Street
September 20, 3.20-4.30pm
Reject Shop, Ovens Street
September 20, 3.30 - 4.30pm
Woolworths Wangaratta, Ovens Street
September 20, 4.00-4.50pm
Supercheap Auto Wangaratta, 14-24 Parfitt Road
Exposure period: September 18, 4:25pm - 5:15pm
Officeworks Wangaratta, 14/24 Parfitt Road
Exposure period: September 18, 4:25pm - 5:30pm
Aldi Wangaratta, 13/15 Chisholm Street
Exposure period: September 18, 5:08pm - 5:38pm
Chicken Time Wangaratta, 24 Faithfull Street
Exposure period: September 18, 5:20pm - 6:00pm
Bunnings, 95/103 Tone Road
Exposure period: September 18, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
EARLIER EXPOSURE SITES (previously listed)
EG Fuel Wangaratta, (Formerly Woolworths Caltex), 73 Tone Road
September 13, 8:00am - 9:30am
Boschs Edward Street Butchers, 2A Edwards Street
September 13, 8:15am - 9:00am
Shell Coles Express, 1 Parfitt Road
September 13, 7:00am - 8:00am