Is there going to be a significant outbreak of COVID-19 in the western districts of Victoria? The answer to this question continues to develop, and the response that might have been given a few weeks ago is very different from today.At the moment, as of May 7th, there are only 89 active cases of COVID-19 in Victoria, and apparently none in our local areas. This is significantly lower than some of the earlier estimates that were given by various health professionals. The curve is flattening. Fewer people are getting sick. So what does this mean for us?At the moment, the chances of any sort of COVID-19 outbreak in rural victoria are very, very slim. It seems clear that we won’t be seeing a large number of people affected by the disease overall; doubly so in communities like Western Victoria, where people are much more spread out.But while it would be very unlikely to see any sort of outbreak of the virus in the western district, it’s certainly not impossible. The recent spike in case numbers at a meat processing plant in Melbourne is a stark reminder that while things are improving, ignoring health advice is dangerous; the virus is still out there.With all this in mind, the question becomes less about what’s going to happen, and more about what we should do. There are still certain measures we need to keep in place, and practices we need to keep observing until we can be sure that there won’t be another influx of infections.Here is a list of what you can be doing to help:
- Stay at home. Unless you’re traveling for work, education, or to buy essentials.
- When out of home, don’t touch your face and stay 1.5m away from others. If you’re going to be in a situation where social distance is difficult, consider wearing a face mask.
- As soon as you return home, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for 20 seconds.
- Download the COVIDSafe app, so that medical professionals can clamp down on small outbreaks and act swiftly, instead of having to implement large scale lockdowns like we’re currently experiencing.
By following these measures and doing your part, we can protect those most vulnerable in our communities and get rid of the virus for good.We understand that this is a difficult time for a great many people. If your mental health is really suffering, please reach out and get some help. Beyond Blue has a dedicated support service for this exact situation, so find out more by clicking here, or just calling them on 1800 512 348The latest government information about restrictions and financial help can be found here.If you have any concerns yourself about coronavirus or your respiratory health, you can get in touch with us to book a no fee telehealth appointment with our respiratory specialists.Breathe Well – Live Well-This article is from Keystone Medical Media, a sub-entity of Keystone Content.
