The fever clinic at Ballarat Health Services saw fewer than 50 people over the weekend who met the criteria for COVID-19 testing.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The dedicated COVID-19 screening clinic, which is a key part of the BHS response and preparation to the developing situation, opened on Friday on Drummond Street.
To date there have been no positive tests confirmed with COVID-19.
Before the clinic opened, BHS executive director of acute operations Ben Kelly said the emergency department was seeing an increase in the number of people presenting with cold and flu-like symptoms, but warned that was not the best option for people who fear they have the virus.
"What we would like to reaffirm to the community is people should not come to hospital just in case, they should come to hospital only if there is no reasonable alternative," he said.
"People should contact the health department hotline (1800 675 398) then go to their GP, then the GP can refer them to our fever clinic if appropriate," Mr Kelly said.
Hospital management thanked the community for listening to advice about who should be tested.
The COVID-19 screening clinic tested fewer than 25 people per day over the weekend who met the criteria.
A dedicated COVID-19 triage nurse is posted outside the emergency department doors to pre-screen patients presenting to the ED and avoid potentially-infectious patients waiting in the triage queue.
The current case definition for COVID-19 includes fever or acute respiratory infection with shortness of breath or cough; international travel in the 14 days before the onset of illness or close or casual contact in that period with a confirmed COVID-19 case.
Only people who have these symptoms should call ahead to their GP or screening clinic before being tested.
For the virus to spread, extended close personal contact is required. Close personal contact is at least 15 minutes face-to-face or more than 2 hours in the same room. Casual contact is a person having any face-to-face contact or sharing of a closed space with a confirmed case for less than two hours.
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe here.
Have you signed up to The Courier's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.
