A frantic search is underway to find another COVID-19 testing site on the border with Wodonga racecourse being out of action from the middle of next week due to preparations for the Gold Cup race meeting at the end of November.
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The racecourse has been used multiple times for testing during the pandemic and was brought back online to cope with the present outbreak in Albury-Wodonga which has resulted in another 62 new cases being recorded in the past 24 hours.
Marquee set-ups for the Gold Cup have already started at the racecourse with preparations to gather momentum in coming weeks.
Albury Wodonga Health Local Public Health Unit executive director Lucie Shanahan said Albury and Wodonga councils were assisting in the search for another site which could bolster testing capacity already on the border.
"If we can source one of the sites we're looking at it will give us increased testing capacity," she said.
Ms Shanahan confirmed a replacement testing team was on its way to the border this weekend to reprieve a crew already here.
"It's a fresh team," she said.
"We know we've got high testing demand and we know we will see ebbs and flows on demand across testing, particularly as we get exposures."
Albury-Wodonga's "significant outbreak" of 450 active cases was raised in federal parliament on Thursday by health minister Greg Hunt.
"My office has also been working with private rapid antigen test providers, they will be available from November 1 and they have confirmed there will be strong and significant supply within the border regions," he said.
"That will grow through pharmacies and convenience providers over the course of the first two weeks but will be available from the start of November."
To date the Victorian government hasn't matched the NSW government provision of 30,000 rapid antigen tests for Albury.
Ms Shanahan said a dip in cases in the last 24 hours should not be interpreted as the peak already being reached.
"It's been comforting to see a relative consistency in numbers in the last few days, but I can't say we've reached a peak or we're going to see increased numbers over the next couple of days.
"We've certainly seen a reduction in numbers today which is great.
"We do expect we will see high numbers, higher than we are comfortable with, for some time yet.
"The best thing the community can do to help us out is vaccination."
She also had some advice for people planning major reunions this weekend when Melbourne residents can travel again into regional Victoria post the latest metropolitan lockdown.
"If you are planning on catching up with family and friends over the course this weekend I strongly encourage you to plan an outdoor event, weather permitting, so you can wear masks, socially distance and catch up in a safe way," she said.
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