Welcome to Latrobe Regional Hospital

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: 

***Updated Monday 18 October 2021***

CASES IN GIPPSLAND Bass Coast 11 / Latrobe City 173 / Baw Baw 207 / South Gippsland 14 / Wellington 11 / East Gippsland 6

LRH is the designated hospital caring for COVID-19 patients from across Gippsland.

COVID PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL: Inpatient unit: 8 / ICU: 2

Exposure site venues contact the COVID Hotline for information on 1800 675 398.

Primary Close Contacts contact 1300 651 160 for further advice and information.

Not all Tier 1 exposure sites will be publicly listed….Why?

Tier 1 exposure sites may not be listed if all contacts are tracked down - if everyone was identified and contacted quickly. When the Gippsland Region Public Health Unit is confident it's reached everyone, then the site won't be published.

Listing dozens of exposure sites with very low risk of transmission can cause confusion, panic and unnecessary alarm. The GRPHU is focussing the public's attention on the sites where there's a real risk.

Tier 1 sites of concern, where not everyone has been accounted for quickly, will be listed. This is a type of public health announcement where the community is asked to act – isolate, get tested and follow advice from the Department of Health.

There have been a few instances recently where businesses that have had a positive COVID-19 case visit their site, have shared this information on social media - and a lot of the time, it's a precautionary measure.

And there have been individuals also doing the same after finding out about a case in their workplace or social group.

All of these messages add to awareness and encourage the community to remain vigilant, monitor for symptoms and continue practicing COVIDSafe behaviours. That's not a bad thing!

However the messages you might see from a business or an individual should not be considered an automatic direction to get tested and isolate.

People who are identified as a Primary Close Contact linked to a potential exposure site will be contacted by the Department of Health and given the necessary advice and information. Of course, testing is also recommended for those experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms, however minor.

Exposure sites in Latrobe City

Six Tier 1 Exposure Sites are associated with these cases. Risk locations remain on the list for 14 days from the most recent exposure.

Tier 1

Morwell Central Primary School, Morwell Wednesday 6 October 9.00am-3.45pm | Thursday 7 October 9.00am-3.45pm

Morwell Park Primary School, Morwell Monday 4 October 9.00am-3.15pm

Please get tested if you were at any of these exposure sites at these dates and times and stay home until you receive a negative result.

Testing sites in Latrobe include:

• Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium drive through, Ashby St, Traralgon Weekdays 9.30am-4.00pm. No appointments required.
• Clinical Labs Traralgon, Monday-Friday 7.30am-3.30pm. Appointments required. Phone 5174 0285.
• Dorevitch Pathology at Latrobe Regional Hospital. Appointment required phone 5165 0800.
• Latrobe Valley Respiratory Clinic, Morwell. Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm, Saturday 9.00am-2.00pm Appointments required. Phone 5191 9321 or go to https://bit.ly/3Fbd8eH
• LCHS - Senior Citizens Centre, Moe, Tuesday and Thursday 9.00am-11.00am Walk up, no appointments necessary. You can pre-fill your details using the testing registration form
• Melbourne Pathology in Moe (asymptomatic testing only) Weekdays 8.00am-5.00pm and Saturday 8.30am-11.30am. Appointments required. Call 5127 2004

For full details of exposure sites across Gippsland go to https://lrh.com.au/important-info/lrh-information/gippsland-region-public-health-unit

Continue to use QR Code check-ins, wear a face mask and physical distance.

Local exposure sites and information will also be updated on the GRPHU Facebook page 

Check Exposure Sites regularly at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites.

If you are experiencing any symptoms, including fever, flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell, please get tested and stay home until you receive a negative result.

Click on this link for information about testing and vaccination sites in Gippsland.

From Wednesday 25 August, everyone aged 16 years and over is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Read more here

If you have been to a COVID-19 exposure site, have been in close contact with someone who might have COVID-19 and have been directed to quarantine or feel unwell do not go to a vaccination appointment. You are permitted to seek urgent medical care under any of these circumstances, however attending a vaccination appointment is not considered urgent medical care under the public health guidelines.

From 23 August 2021

Updated visitor guidelines 

No visitors are allowed at LRH except under the following circumstances

• As a parent, guardian or carer of a child who is a patient in hospital (2 parents/guardians. Overnight stay restricted to 1 parent/guardian)
• To provide care and support for the patient’s physical and emotional wellbeing (1 person. Visit to be approved by the Hospital Coordinator)
• As a nominated person under the Mental Health Act (1 person. Visit to be approved by the Hospital Coordinator)
• To provide interpreter or informal language support (1 person. Visit to be approved by the Hospital Coordinator)
• For learning to support the resident’s care upon discharge (2 people. Visit to be approved by the Hospital Coordinator)
• As a carer of a patient with a disability (1 person. Visit to be approved by the Hospital Coordinator)
• Accompanying someone to the emergency department or outpatient clinic if it is necessary for you to do so to support the provision of care
• As a partner of a pregnant woman or patient in a maternity ward (1 partner or support person for an unlimited time. No overnight stay)
• To provide end of life support to a patient including those with a life threatening conditions (2 people at a time. No limit on number of visitors per day. No time limit) 
• Non-essential contractors are restricted from entry

Palliative care: Under special circumstances LRH Executive approval may be given on compassionate grounds to a palliative care patient.

Please check you have not been at a COVID-19 public exposure site before entering LRH

If you have any of the following symptoms:

• fever
• chills or sweats
• cough
• sore throat
• shortness of breath
• runny nose
• loss or change in sense of smell or taste

please get tested for coronavirus.

If you become very unwell with COVID-19 symptoms outside of clinic hours, please contact the LRH Emergency Department for initial screening and advice. You may be required to attend the ED for testing and should take the necessary precautions such as wearing a mask.