'Dramatic increase' in south-west testing as Victoria records 288 new COVID-19 cases

Moyne Shire Council has completed a deep clean of Port Fairy after a family of four tested positive to COVID-19 after visiting the town this week.

The family holidayed in Port Fairy between July 2 and 4.

The council in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and South West Healthcare, cleaned the accommodation facility where the family stayed, which re-opened on Tuesday.

Moyne Shire mayor Daniel Meade said the case was a reminder the region was not immune to the virus.

"The DHHS have told us that their investigation and contract tracing process has not identified any additional close contacts or risks within the community," he said.

"As a result of this we are confident that the risk of community transmission is low.

"That doesn't mean we can relax, it's more important than ever to maintain our COVID-safe practices of social distancing and good hand washing.

"The incident was well handled by all agencies and we thank them for the support and care for our community.

"Moyne Health services have done a fantastic job testing over the last couple of days, but I urge anyone showing symptoms, not matter how mild, to go and get tested."

37,588 Victorians were tested for coronavirus yesterday, the highest number of tests carried out in Victoria in a single day.

Over the past seven days South West Healthcare has screened another 386 people for coronavirus, taking the total screenings to 5334.

Of those, 372 were symptomatic.

No asymptomatic screening clinics are currently being provided by SWH.

The Great South Coast Respiratory Clinic tested 188 people in Warrnambool this week from Monday to Thursday.

Clinic manager Delna Plathottam said they had seen a "dramatic increase" in testing uptake.

"We have seen a dramatic increase generally not necessarily related to the Port Fairy incident. As a new clinic it could be linked to a heightened awareness of the clinic availability and opening times," she said.

Moyne Health has conducted more than 40 tests over two days, and will be running another clinic on Monday between 11am and 2pm.

Portland District Health conducted 167 tests in the last week, with no positive tests returned in the region to date.

The PDH fever clinic will be open Saturday from 9am to 1pm.

A testing blitz was carried out in Timboon and Port Campbell over the last week at the Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club and Timboon and District Healthcare Service Urgent Care Centre car park.

Chief executive Rebecca Van Wollingen said more than 50 people were tested between TDHS and Timboon Medical Practive over the past five days, an increase on the week before.

Symptomatic patient testing will continue at Timboon for the foreseeable future.

This week saw increased demand for COVID-19 testing at Western District Health Service, with 166 people presenting at the Hamilton drive-thru clinic and emergency department.

Since early March, WDHS has tested 2080 people for the virus, with seven of those testing positive. The last positive test result in the Southern Grampians Shire was identified on April 10.

The drive-thru testing clinic remains open six days a week from Monday to Saturday.

Premier Daniel Andrews has advised all residents in metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire to wear face masks when leaving home and where physical distancing is not possible.

Mr Andrews said he foreshadowed the virus spread "will get bigger still".

"It's on all of us to play our part. If we follow the rules then we will pull this up, we will bring a sense of control to this.

"It will be the contribution each of us make."

A number of fines have been issued by Victoria police in the last 24 hours, including to people trying to breach checkpoints to get into country areas.

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