ELECTIVE surgeries have been halted in most public and private hospitals across Victoria from 11.59pm, Thursday January 6, in response to the increasing surge of COVID-19 positive case numbers and the pressure on the health system, likely to also impact the Western District Health Service (WDHS).
This will impact people who are classified as semi-urgent in Category 2, requiring surgery within 90 days and non-urgent cases, classified in Category 3, requiring treatment within 12 months.
Emergency surgery, however, will still go ahead.
In the biggest change to the COVID-19 testing system since the beginning of the pandemic, Victorians won’t have to line up to get a PCR test and wait for their result to be diagnosed with COVID-19 – meaning shorter wait times and faster access to clinical care.
Under new pandemic orders that came into effect at 11.59pm on Thursday, people who test positive on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) will be considered probable cases and be subject to the same requirements as confirmed cases from a PCR test – they must isolate immediately for seven days and notify their contacts.
It will be mandatory to report the result of a positive RAT to the Department of Health through an online form or by phone – ensuring people can access the care and information they need, including monitoring for worsening symptoms and financial support for isolation.
Once a probable case has reported their positive RAT result, they will be asked questions about their symptoms and directly provided critical information about their next steps, how long they must isolate and how they can get care and advice – just as they would if they tested positive on a PCR test. Probable cases will be reported alongside confirmed cases in Victoria’s daily numbers.
A PCR test continues to be recommended for people who test positive on a RAT but don’t have symptoms and who aren’t contacts. Due to the increased accuracy of RATs in higher-risk groups, PCR tests will be discouraged for contacts or people with symptoms.
The online and phone reporting system went live on January 7.
On Wednesday, free RATs were successfully distributed at four of the state’s largest testing centres as part of a pilot which is continuing today and tomorrow – while Victoria awaits the arrival of the first significant delivery of the 44 million ordered tests.
A density quotient of one person per two square metres, which also came into effect from midnight, yesterday, will apply to indoor entertainment and hospitality venues in Victoria (except cinemas and theatres) from this time.
WDHS chief executive, Rohan Fitzgerald said that WDHS reported 22 new positive COVID-19 cases in the community on Thursday this week –the highest number reported in a single day.
Between Monday 3 and the morning of Friday 7 January, WDHS reported 85 new positive COVID-19 cases in the community.
“I anticipate the number of positive COVID-19 cases will continue to climb in the coming days,” he said.
“Throughout the pandemic we have been fortunate to date that there has been very little disruption to WDHS surgical activity, however this will not be the case as we head into the next few months.
“Due to reduced workforce, it is anticipated that WDHS will be required to cancel elective surgery in the near future, however urgent surgical cases will not be affected.
“While a decision to cancel surgical cases has not been made locally at WDHS, it is important the community understand this is likely given the extent of the current outbreak.
“I am incredibly grateful for the community’s continued support and apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused as a result of the potential disruption to surgical services.
“For now, it’s business as usual in Theatre and rest assured, we will provide the community with a further update should circumstances change.”
Victoria recorded 21,997 and six deaths on Thursday, all locally acquired and at time of going to print, there were 61,120 active cases in the state (yesterday’s figures were yet to be announced).
