CORONAVIRUS testing will remain part of Ballarat for at least another six months with residents urged to be vigilant about even the slightest symptoms for the deadly infection.
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The federal government has extended the contract for Ballarat's primary testing site in Lucas to UFS until March 30.
This comes as state health officials urge people to get tested as it was the best way to monitor how the virus' was spreading and to prevent potential outbreaks.
Deakin University epidemiology lead Catherine Bennett has told The Courier mask wearing and COVID-19 testing were two factors within individuals' control to help instill extra confidence in the state government to ease restrictions further.
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Testing rates in Ballarat remain steady but below the regional Victoria average the past fortnight. There were 1680 COVID-19 tests in Ballarat in two weeks to Friday.
Ballarat's testing rate is 1534 tests per 100,000 people, short of the regional testing rate of 1630 and clear below Bendigo (1788) and Geelong (1914).
UFS confirmed numbers at the Lucas site had dropped slightly on Friday to about 50 people, compared to the average 70 to 80 people the clinic was testing daily. A further 82 people were tested at the Lucas clinic at the weekend with booking near capacity in reduced weekend hours.
City of Ballarat has been free of active COVID-19 cases for almost four weeks.
There are four active cases in regional Victoria, including one in Colac Otway Shire, with the latest recorded in Shepparton on Monday although health officials suspect this could be a false positive.
UFS chief Lynne McLennan the fact the virus crept back into Mitchell Shire, north of Melbourne, at the weekend showed regional communities were far from immune yet.
"We've still got that vulnerability," Ms McLennan said. "We've got zero cases in Ballarat but there are still people (legitimately) travelling from Melbourne and that means there are still lives at risk.
"...We can see in that outbreak at Chadstone what one person doing the wrong thing can create."
Ms McLennan said UFS expected cold and flu rates among children and parents to rise with a return to on-site learning in schools.
Ballarat is also into hay fever and grass pollen season, which can create similar symptoms to COVID-19. Victoria's health officials have warned people not to dismiss symptoms as a more minor health ailment.
Ms McLennan said testing results were back within 24 hours and same-day test booking were mostly available, so there should be no excuses for people not to isolate and get tested.
Free COVID-19 tests are available by appointment only in Lucas (phone) 4311 1571) in Little Bridge Street (1800 054 172).
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