Albury Wodonga Health has downplayed the need for Australian Defence Force personnel to bolster COVID-19 testing capability after frustration at Wodonga's three testing sites filling to capacity within two hours of opening reached boiling point on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The ADF was used during Shepparton outbreaks and member for Benambra Bill Tilley has called on Premier Daniel Andrews and Health Minister Martin Foley to bring in additional resources to halt the border outbreak including help from the army.
"Every option should be explored and I know that Shepparton enlisted the support of the ADF when their resources were stretched," Mr Tilley said.
"People are angry, frustrated and understandably nervous.
"This is ripping through school communities and the longer these tests are delayed the greater the risk of this spread widening."
The ADF was called in to assist at border checkpoints during the pandemic.
Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said if additional resources were needed on the border they would be brought in.
"As we've always done if we see demand we look to operationalise more testing sites or increase operating hours," he said.
"(Testing) is absolutely required, but we will need to see what we can mobilise locally to respond to that."
RELATED COVERAGE
AWH director Lucie Shanahan said additional resources from the Victorian Health Department had helped re-open the Wodonga racecourse testing site.
"We're in continual discussions with the Department of Health about testing resources," she said.
"One of things we need to start thinking about as a community is this is how life is going to be going forward.
"It's really challenging at the moment, we're in a transitional phase and we need to think differently about the way we live, work and manage COVID.
"If you haven't been to an exposure site or haven't been contacted by the department then at this stage, unless you are symptomatic, you don't need to come forward.
"We don't have a need for the ADF at this stage.
"We know (testing sites) are filling up really quickly and one of the challenges we have is having suitable sites to conduct testing.
"When we've got large numbers of cars queuing we do have a traffic management responsibility."
Meanwhile, Ms Shanahan seven people are in Albury hospital with COVID-19, an increase of four from earlier in the week.
But none are in ICU or require use of ventilator.
"While they are receiving acute care, they are not critically unwell at this stage," she said.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark https://www.bordermail.com.au/
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter: @bordermail
- Follow us on Instagram @bordermail
- Follow us on Google News.