Casey third for Covid cases

A microscopic image of the virus causing COVID-19. Picture: CSIRO

By Danielle Kutchel

Casey’s status as a Covid hotspot is stubbornly persisting.

Officials have noted the City of Casey as an area of concern for some weeks now as cases continue to rise in the municipality.

The latest tier 1 exposure site in the LGA is KingKids Early Learning Centre and Kindergarten Narre Warren.

A case attended on Wednesday 6 October between 8.15am and 6.15pm and anyone there during that time must get tested and quarantine for 14 days from exposure.

Casey North Community Information and Support Service has also been exposed to Covid.

The majority of staff are currently working from home and the organisation is still providing support and emergency relief via phone and email as it has done over lockdown.

September was the busiest month for the organisation since the pandemic started, with need increasing during the extended sixth lockdown, according to executive officer Susan Magee.

But Ms Magee said staff would get back to people as quickly as they could.

She reminded residents to get vaccinated if eligible and to keep to the lockdown restrictions to keep people safe.

Meanwhile, Victoria is nearing 60 per cent of eligible people double-dosed with a Covid vaccine, with more than 86 per cent having received a single dose.

There were 1466 locally-acquired cases reported on Tuesday 12 October, with authorities cautiously optimistic that Melbourne may have reached the peak of its third wave.

Casey had 1387 active Covid cases as of Monday 11 October, the third highest in the state behind Hume with 3244 and Whittlesea with 1751.

On the same day, authorities opened a new Covid testing facility at the old Masters site on Thompsons Road in Cranbourne.

The vaccination rate in the City of Casey has increased recently, following several successful pop-up vaccination clinics.

According to Federal health data, as of Sunday 10 October, 88.9 per cent of eligible Casey residents over the age of 15 had received one dose of the vaccine, and 54.2 per cent had received two doses.

This puts Casey just slightly behind Cardinia Shire (89.9 per cent first dose, and 56.9 per cent double-dose) and ahead of Greater Dandenong (84 per cent at one dose and 48 per cent at two).

For more about getting tested or vaccinated for Covid-19, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au