COVID Reaches Donald

After having managed to avoid Covid for almost 20 months since the beginning of the pandemic, Donald is the latest community to be impacted after an infected person visited the Donald Hotel on the evening of Thursday, October 14.

Five days later, at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, the hotel was listed as a Tier 1 site on the DHHS Website, and anyone who visited the hotel between 6.30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the day in question must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.

It is only the second time that a Tier 1 site has been identified in the Buloke Shire.

As one of the patrons in the hotel at that time, I found myself waking to the news via ABC Radio last Wednesday morning, having to confront the obligation that comes with having been in a Tier 1 site.

Getting tested was the main priority, followed by a period of isolation at home.

The test, expertly administered by EWHS Donald Campus manager, Cheryl Williams, was something that I could not have prepared myself for, and although a little uncomfortable, I have lived to tell the story.

EWHS and the Buloke Shire moved very quickly when word of the Donald exposure site became known, with a pop up testing station being set up in the grounds of the Donald hospital on Wednesday and operational by 11 a.m..

As the sixth car in line for testing, accompanied by my son, Darcy, (both double vaxed) who also attended the hotel on October 14, the wait was short and the process thorough, but I assume it would have been a long day of testing, given the number of people who attended the hotel over the course of the evening, those with whom they have been in contact in the ensuing days, and others who may have wanted to be tested, as a precautionary measure.

Hotel publican, Mel Parkinson, is understandably very distressed by the development, and said on Wednesday that the hotel would be closed for a couple of days, allowing cleaning, and for staff, who were also exposed, to get tested.

The Buloke Shire has put in place a number of arrangements to assist those who find themselves in quarantine, unable to shop for food and other necessities.

From EWHS 
EWHS staff were made aware in the early morning of the 20th October that there had been an exposure site in Donald and by mid-morning staff and resources had been mobilised to run a pop-up testing site at the Donald Campus.

Staff were able to test community members and provided advice and information.

Staff were also mobilised to provide resources to complete a deep clean of the exposure site.

The health service is very proud of its commitment and effort to provide support and care to its community in a rapid response situation.

From the Mayor, Cr. Daryl Warren
The Donald Hotel was declared a Tier 1 exposure site for October 14, 2021, between 6.30 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. due to a case attending the venue.

This means anyone who attended the venue during this time must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.

Exposure sites can be downgraded and added at any time. To keep up to date with any changes visit  https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites

East Wimmera Health Service has enacted extra testing measures in response to the exposure. For the latest testing times and information visit http://ewhs.org.au/

You can get also get a free COVID-19 test by appointment in the Buloke Shire through our local health services. At all locations at our health clinics in Buloke, bookings are essential, and services are operating Monday – Friday.  

In Birchip, Charlton, Wycheproof and Donald, COVID-19 testing is available by appointment at each East Wimmera Health Service Campus. Each campus will have specific times that testing can take place. Call the Hospital campus for the booking: Birchip (5477 7100), Charlton (5477 6800), Donald (5478 6200), Wycheproof (5478 0700). For more information, visit http://ewhs.org.au/

In Sea Lake, phone ahead to the Medical Centre on 5070 2118. For more information, visit https://www.mthcs.com.au/

If you are quarantining or isolating and cannot access the supplies you need, please call Council’s Community Development team on 1300 520 520 to arrange delivery of essential supplies.

For the latest COVID-19 public health information please visit the Department of Health and Human Services, (DHHS) website www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus

If you suspect you may have the COVID-19 disease and are unclear what you need to do, call the dedicated hotline on 1800 675 398.