Bass Coast Health finally decided to confirm that no cases are currently within their hospitals. Not sure why they could not say so yesterday when given the chance to respond to this story. A statement issued moments ago includes the following: 

Bass Coast Health wishes to confirm these rumours are false. There are currently no COVID cases at Bass Coast Health’s sites at Wonthaggi Hospital and Phillip Island Health Hub.

Bass Coast Health will not always know of every positive case in Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires and in the interests of privacy and confidentiality, we will not confirm detail of cases when they do exist.

The spokesperson indicated that all cases that have been admitted to a hospital with a positive test result are recorded in the Shire of their principal place of residence. The spokesperson confirmed that if two people from outside Bass Coast Shire had been admitted, they would not be acknowledged to be in the hospital, but that they would be indicated in the daily figures as being from the Shire whence they came. The public would not be aware of their presence within the Shire. The spokesperson stated that the daily figures record positive cases against their principal place of residence only and not where they are being treated.

The spokesperson stressed that we are in a pandemic and that everyone should stay safe, keep their social distancing, practice good hand hygiene, and get themselves tested at the slightest indication of symptoms.