“Keeping our families safe should be our first priority but keeping our community safe is just as important and that is why I thank everyone who has worked so hard to look out for each other and support local businesses where possible,” he said.
“According to the Australian Governments Local Government Area (LGA) Geographic Vaccine Rates, as of November 4 the Moira Shire, the Rural City of Wangaratta and the Alpine Shire have now reached double vaccination rates of approximately 95% or more,” Mr McCurdy said.
“It is pleasing to see our communities across the Ovens Valley having such high double vaccination rates and it is through these efforts that we can look forward to being reunited with friends and family in a Covid safe holiday period ahead.
“Although we have lost many events and activities from the past 18 months, we must remember that new ones are just around the corner.
“A solution to continue getting our communities back to normal is by pushing for more affordable and regular rapid tests to ensure individuals can go about their days without the delays of Covid testing and long waits for test results.
“We have done our bit and now it is time for the Victorian Government to do their bit and help our Victorian communities and businesses move forward.”
Local outbreak subsiding
The local COVID-19 outbreak in Yarrawonga seems to be subsiding with several donut days over the past week or single digit numbers recorded.
The most recent update released on Monday before the Chronicle went to print showed that no new cases of COVID-19 had been reported in the cross-border community in the 24 hours to Monday with the total active cases reducing to 18.
As people recover from COVID-19 the number of active cases will begin to change.
However, the local schools are again on alert as they were informed a Fallons Bus driver had returned a positive covid result with bus services to Bundalong, Tungamah, Burramine and Lake Rowan suspended until at least Thursday. Fallons is going through all necessary guidelines to ensure the safety of all staff and customers.
Yarrawonga Health thank the community for their support and patience with the YH testing teams and urge anyone with any symptoms to come forward for testing.
To save time at the testing clinic, you can pre-register for a COVID-19 test online at https://testtracker.covid19.dhhs.vic.gov.au/citizen-prefill and present your unique registration code when you arrive at the testing site.
Yarrawonga Health COVID-19 testing clinic open 8.30am – 11.30am seven days a week with increased capacity when needed.