COVID-19 toll uncertain, ripple effects hit Ballarat health industry

COVID-19 testing was largely suspended for a second consecutive day at the city's major drive-through screening site on Wednesday while staff worked to clear a testing back-log. The Ballarat Health Services-run site on Creswick Road re-opened in the afternoon after turning away motorists all morning.

This comes as Ballarat recorded almost 200 new COVID-19 infections, taking the city's active case tally to 386.

BHS has not been releasing numbers of the city's cases in hospital, which leading epidemiologist Catherine Bennett has said was the key to understanding the region's virus toll and impacts on the healthcare system.

Professor Bennett, from Deakin University, has maintained fast rising COVID-19 case numbers were expected but it was vital to monitor healthcare systems that might be stretched.

Victoria's health department announced late on Wednesday that elective surgery had again been slashed to only the most urgent cases in a bid to help state's major hospitals better cope with rising pressure from COVID-19 and its ripple effects.

All but emergency and the most urgent elective surgery would cease in public and private hospitals from Thursday.

Professor Bennett warned testing offered a delayed snapshot of what was unfolding but staff shortages and resources were telling factors in how the health system was coping. She said health workers were potentially exposed in the community and hospitals were dealing with patients for a wide range of needs other than COVID-19.

Pressure is already being felt in Ballarat's allied health care industry with veteran physiotherapist Michael Pierce saying staff furloughs due to potential COVID-19 exposures were the biggest factor on care at the moment.

This comes amid as rapid antigen tests, including supplies for health workers, were crippled across the state. UFS acting chief David Stevens indicated his community pharmacies - a major RAT test source for Ballarat - would hopefully have more supplies soon.

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A Victoria health department statement read elective surgery cuts were to help ensure healthcare workers could better focus on existing demand and preparations for more COVID-19 patients.

Cuts were also to allow "public and private hospitals to work as one system to make the best use of available capacity".

The Courier understands BHS Base Hospital is no longer a streaming hospital for an overflow of COVID-19 cases for Melbourne.

BHS is also yet to bring into action the COVID Positive Assessment Zone, a giant specially adapted marquee outside the emergency department, which is designed to better triage patients presenting with respiratory illness.

Surgery suspension comes into effect from Thursday and includes other regional hospitals in Geelong, Bendigo, the La Trobe Valley and Shepparton.

Some elective surgery scheduled for Thursday and Friday will occur when deemed not safe or logistically possible to postpone.

Victoria had 591 COVID-19 patients in hospital as of Wednesday morning, up from 516 a day earlier. The state's active COVID-19 cases exceeded 51, 300.

BHS' testing centre is only taking people with COVID-19 symptoms or household contacts of a person with COVID-19 while testing demand remains high.

Anyone who is unsure is urged to isolate as if they have COVID-19, try to take a rapid antigen test (if available) and to call their general practitioner.

Walk-in jabs for COVID-19 booster vaccinations are also limited at the BHS' community vaccination centre at The Mercure this week due to high demand.

People seeking boosters are urged to book or try a pharmacist or GP.

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