Stawell Regional Health (SRH) and Northern Grampians Shire Council (NGSC) have been advised by Ballarat Health Services' Grampians Public Health Unit (GPHU) that a person – from outside the region – who has since tested positive for COVID-19 visited a number of businesses across Halls Gap and Stawell between Friday 8 October and Sunday 10 October 2021.
The community, and visitors to the region are reminded that if they attended a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed, they are considered Primary Close Contacts, and must:
• immediately isolate
• get a COVID-19 test, and
• quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure, even if they return a negative result.
• They should also fill out the self-assessment form or call 1300 651 160.
Recent changes to exposure advice mean that only people who attended the exposure site at the time of exposure are required to isolate, get tested and quarantine for 14 days. Household members are no longer required to isolate, unless they develop symptoms.
Anyone with even the mildest of symptoms is urged to get tested immediately, and then isolate until they receive a negative result.
Testing is available from Stawell Regional Health (SRH) Hospital, 27 Sloane Street, Stawell from 10am to 2pm, daily, no appointment necessary.
And drive through testing will once again be available at the Stawell Tennis Club, 63 Newington Road, Stawell, no appointment necessary. This drive-through service will operate until further notice from 10am to 2pm daily.
There can be a delay in exposure sites appearing on the Department of Health exposure site webpage, so the GPHU are publishing confirmed exposure sites, which require action by the community, on the Ballarat Health Services Facebook page. The SRH and North Grampians Shire Council (NGSC) websites, social media platforms, and digital screens also display this information as it becomes available.
You may hear of Tier 1 sites that do not appear on these publication channels - not all Tier 1 sites require action by our community, and Tier 2 sites are no longer published, except in circumstances where the GPHU believes it is of public importance.
Please continue to also check the exposure site webpage www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au each day.
As of 5pm 14 October, local Tier 1 exposure sites are:
Business |
Location |
Exposure Date and Time |
Spirit of Punjab |
161-163 Grampians Road, Halls Gap |
Friday 8 October from 6.30pm to 7.30pm |
Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co |
119 Grampians Road, Halls Gap |
Friday 8 October from 7.30pm to 8pm |
Live Fast Cafe |
97 Grampians Road, Halls Gap |
Saturday 9 October from 11am to 11.30am |
Flame Brothers Restaurant and Bar |
10/97 Grampians Road, Halls Gap |
Saturday 9 October from 6.40pm to 8.30pm |
Grampians Adventure Golf Cafe and MOCO gallery |
475 to 481 Grampians Road, Halls Gap |
Sunday 10 October from 11.15am to 1pm |
Industry & Co Barbering and Hairdressing |
112 Main Street Stawell |
Friday 8 October from 2pm to 3.30pm |
NGSC and Grampians Tourism have also closed the Halls Gap Hub Visitor Information Centre as a precaution as the Paper Scissors Rock Brew Co and VIC use the same toilets. It is not considered to be a Tier One site.
SRH and NGSC are currently re-establishing a drive through testing clinic at the Stawell Tennis Club, 63 Newington Road, Stawell. This service will run at the tennis club site until further notice from 10am to 2pm daily. In the meantime, testing services will continue to run from SRH Hospital, 27 Sloane Street, Stawell from 10am to 2pm, daily, no appointment necessary.
NGSC has contacted businesses in the affected areas to confirm they are aware of how to manage an exposure and to advise precautionary steps such as double-checking every customer is checking in using QR or manual system. Businesses are encouraged to contact Business Support Team on 03 5358 8700 and visit the NGSC website www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/coronavirus for current local information.
The Covid-19 vaccine is the first line of defence against Coronavirus and Covid-19 vaccination services are available at:
Stawell Regional Health |
03 5358 6550 |
Patrick Street Family Practice |
03 5358 7555 |
Grampians Community Health is offering isolation support services inclusive of food supplies and can be contacted on 03 5358 7400. Council's Meals on Wheels service is available to eligible people under 65 by contacting the Positive Ageing Team on 03 5358 8700.
Stawell Regional Health CEO, Ms Kate Pryde commended the community for their swift action in light of the recent exposures.
"Thank you to everyone in the shire who immediately came forward to get tested upon learning of the Halls Gap and Stawell exposures. It is extremely heartening to see the community being so proactive with regards to this public health emergency and we are here to support you in every way we can," stated Ms Pryde.
"We had an uptick in our daily swab count at the Covid clinic yesterday from a daily average of 30 to 138 swabs and this continues to be the trend today.
"Stawell Regional Health has doubled our testing services again with the no appointment necessary drive through being set up at Stawell Tennis Club again for daily testing from tomorrow. Residents can either come to the hospital or the drive through.
"We encourage all residents to come and get tested especially if they have visited the exposure sites during the times indicated and also if they have any symptoms whatsoever that may indicate they have been exposed to Coronavirus."
Northern Grampians Shire Council Mayor, Cr Murray Emerson concurred.
"On behalf of Council I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone in the community, businesses, individuals, health agencies, council staff, charities and volunteers who have stepped forward to assist with this recent exposure," Cr Emerson said.
"The business community has shown tremendous responsibility towards their patrons with immediate notifications on social media of the exposure and shut downs. Call our Covid-19 Business Concierge team if you need further support."
"It's important to remember that we need to stay calm and to not overwhelm our health agencies and their staff un-necessarily if you have not been at the exposure sites and do not have symptoms. Let's make those spots at the testing clinics available first and foremost to those who need them."
"In the meantime, make getting fully vaccinated your priority, keep following the restrictions especially mask wearing and checking in everywhere you go and if you're feeling unwell, get tested at the drive through or the Stawell hospital clinic."
Stawell Regional Health www.srh.org.au/our-services/covidclinic
Northern Grampians Shire Council www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/Coronavirus
