By Laura Michell
Northern Hospital has reassured the community its emergency department remains open and that staff are being tested after a number of healthcare workers tested positive for coronavirus.
Eight healthcare workers have tested positive for the virus over the past five days, while one household contact of a confirmed case has also contracted the virus.
The Department of Health and Human Services reported the first cases linked to the emergency department last Friday, announcing that two healthcare workers had returned positive tests.
A Northern Health spokesperson said all staff in the emergency department were being tested as a precaution.
“Due to the number of staff cases of coronavirus and quarantined close contacts in the emergency department, the hospital is operating reduce services and some ambulances are temporarily being diverted to other hospitals,” the spokesperson said.
“The emergency department will undergo continuous deep cleaning for the next two weeks and close contacts are being identified and quarantined.”
The hospital is asking people with minor, less-urgent condition to seek medical advice from their GP in the first instance.
“People requiring urgent care should attend the emergency department,” the spokeswoman said.
The hospital has also imposed further restrictions on visitors as a precaution.
The number of coronavirus cases in Hume grew by 31 cases overnight. There have been 276 cases recorded in the municipality since the pandemic began.
There are currently 145 active cases.
Overnight, one new case was linked to an outbreak at Aitken Hill Primary School in Craigieburn, with 10 cases now linked to the cluster.
In Whittlesea, there are 36 active cases, with the municipality recording 89 cases since the start of the pandemic.
