Final push for COVID-19 testing in hope results speed up lockdown lifts

This final big push to check people who show no possible cold-like symptoms for coronavirus is made with the prospect of restrictions being eased on Monday.

Ballarat Health Services will keep its pop-up clinic at the Morshead Park soccer stadium open Saturday and until Sunday lunchtime in a bid to catch people who have been working all week.

BHS has maintained the more people tested, the better the picture of the virus in this community amid what has been a fortnight-long blitz from Premier Daniel Andrews leading into Victoria's state of emergency review on Monday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison laid out his plans for easing restrictions, a three-step approach, after a national cabinet meeting on Friday. This would have restaurants, shopping, community centres and playgrounds re-opening first.

Mr Andrews, however, held firm on his stance no restrictions would be lifted in Victoria before Monday. The state will remain under stage three lockdowns for Mother's Day.

BHS has tested at least 2000 people, with and without symptoms, for COVID-19 with no new cases confirmed. Testing numbers from Friday are yet to be verified but Lucas and Sebastopol symptomatic sites remained heavily booked leading into the weekend.

Ballarat Health Services acute operations executive director Ben Kelly said the community response had been fantastic, particularly in comparison to other regional cities. Now it was important to finish the blitz strong.

Ballarat has had no new COVID-19 cases for 37 days. Victorian Health Department data shows there is one active case linked to the region.

Mr Kelly confirmed BHS was not actively treating anyone who was COVID-19 positive. He said BHS was aware of the city's nine individual cases from the outset of the pandemic and that BHS was seeking clarification from the health department on the active case.

With its data, the health department states information is recorded at the time of testing and does not show where the person was residing now nor where they were being treatment.

Mr Kelly said this was an important reason why such widespread testing across the community was needed.

Retired healthcare worker Jill Oliver and husband Andrew Oliver both care for elderly parents in a role they said had otherwise exposed them more often to the general public. Ms Oliver felt it was important to take the free, nasal swab test as a matter of better informing health officials on the next step to potentially ease restrictions.

BHS has taken mobile testing sites to major employers, including MaxiTrans, Mars and City of Ballarat.

What happens next on the testing front will depend on the premier's call.

Should this weekend be the end of a testing blitz, BHS is likely to close its Sebastopol fever clinic in a bid to bring back more public dental services.

This would allow, as planned, for BHS to offer more resources to support the UFS-led clinic testing people with symptoms at Lucas Community Hub. Lucas starts weekend testing by appointments on Saturday.

Morshead Park is open to walk-up tests for people without symptoms on Saturday, 9am-5pm, and Sunday morning.

Anyone with even the mildest cold or flu-like symptoms should book an appointment to be tested at either the Lucas clinic (4311 1571). If you do not have an appointment, you will not be tested. You will be escorted to and from your car for the appointment to limit contact.

If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thankyou very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.