UPDATE - OCTOBER 5

THE number of active COVID-19 cases in the Gannawarra Shire decreased by one overnight.

There are now six active cases in the local government area.

Meanwhile, the Atkinson Park playground and public toilet in Kerang has reopened after being identified as Tier 2 exposure site late Friday. 

It's believed to be contained to one household in the shire. All are isolated. 

UPDATE - OCTOBER 4 

ANOTHER two positive COVID-19 cases have been identified in the Gannawarra Shire.

No additional exposure sites have been announced. 

UPDATE - OCTOBER 3

FOR the second day in a row, Gannawarra Shire hasn’t recorded any new cases of COVID-19.

There remain five active cases. 

UPDATE - OCTOBER 2 

WHAT WE KNOW:

- Victoria recorded 1488 new local cases of COVID-19 on Saturday.

- More than half of the state's eligible population are now fully vaccinated (80.8 per cent first dose, 50.6 per cent both doses). 

- There are five active cases in Gannawarra.

- There are exposure sites at: 

Woolworths Kerang on Saturday, September 25 between 3.22pm and 4.20pm. It is a Tier 2 exposure site (get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result). 

Exchange Hote Kerang on Sunday, September 26 between 10.40am and 1.35pm. It is a Tier 1 exposure site (get tested and isolate for 14 days from time of exposure).

Atkinson Park Kerang on Sunday, September 26 between 10am and 11.10am. It is a Tier 2 exposure site (get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result). 

Lake Meran public playground and public toilets (northern side) on Wednesday, September 22 between 10am and 1pm. It is a Tier 2 exposure site (get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result). 

Serpentine Roadhouse on September 21 (between 9.50am and 10.35am and between 1.07pm and 1.50pm) and 22 (between 9.50am and 10.35am and better 1.08pm and 1.50pm). It is both a Tier 1 and Tier 2 exposure site. 

UPDATE - 11.45PM

THE Atkinson Park playground and public toilet in Kerang has been identified as a Tier 2 exposure site.

A positive case attended the playground on Sunday, September 26, between 10am and 11.10am.

Meanwhile, the Lake Meran public playground and public toilets (northern side) on Lake Meran Track has been listed as a Tier 2 exposure site. 

A positive case visited on Wednesday, September 22, between 10am and 1pm. 

Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a COVID-19 test and isolate until they receive a negative result.

Continue to monitor for symptoms, get tested again if symptoms appear.

UPDATE - 10PM

THE Serpentine Roadhouse, south of Kerang, has been listed as an exposure site.

The petrol station and restaurant on the Loddon Valley Highway has been identified as a Tier 2 site at four different times, but some customers will be a Tier 1 contact. 

A positive case visited the premises on: 

Tuesday, September 21: 9.50am - 10.35am

Tuesday, September 21: 1.07pm - 1.50pm

Wednesday, September 22: 9.50am - 10.35am

Wednesday September 22: 1.08pm - 1.50pm

Tier 1: Test and isolate for 14 days from time of exposure 

Tier 2: Test and isolate until negative result. 

UPDATE - OCTOBER 1 

THE Gannawarra Shire recorded one new positive COVID-19 case on Friday, bringing the active total to five. 

It's unclear if the new case is linked, or a household contact of the four other cases. 

There remain just two exposure sites.

An infected person visited the Exchange Hotel on Wellington Street between 10.40am and 1.35pm on Sunday, September 26. 

Anyone who visited the pub between these times is urged to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the time of exposure. 

Meanwhile, Woolworths Kerang is Tier 2 site. 

The case shopped on September 25 between 3.22pm and 4.20pm. You must get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result. 

UPDATE - 6PM 

EXCHANGE Hotel Kerang owners are hoping to reopen their doors tomorrow after the venue was listed as a Tier 1 exposure site on Thursday.

A COVID positive patron attended the Wellington Street venue on Sunday, September 26 between 10.40am and 1.35pm.

Anyone who was there at that time must get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the exposure.

Co-owner Caitlin Sutterby said the pub has undergone a clean, before awaiting further advice from the health department

Following the announcement on Tuesday that a positive COVID-19 case was identified in Kerang, the pub closed its doors.

"We had an inkling something would happen so we closed anyway," Ms Sutterby said.

Mr Sutterby said only a small number of people attended the venue during the exposure period, with details passed onto contract tracers.

UPDATE - 2.30PM

A KERANG pub has been listed as a Tier 1 exposure site.

An infected person visited the Exchange Hotel on Wellington Street between 10.40am and 1.35pm on Sunday, September 26. 

Anyone who visited the pub between these times is urged to get tested immediately and quarantine for 14 days from the time of exposure. 

UPDATE - 2PM 

SWAN Hill District Health chief executive Peter Abraham says a person with a Swan Hill address has tested positive to COVID-19 in Melbourne. 

“It’s our belief they’re not in Swan Hill or have been during their infectious period,” Mr Abraham said.

“That person is a positive in Melbourne and has been in Melbourne.

“It’s not known yet if that person has returned to Swan Hill, but our belief is that they haven’t.”

Mr Abraham said the case would be fully investigated by the Loddon Public Health Unit and the Melbourne COVID-19 contact tracing team.

Investigations are ongoing.

Full coverage in the October 1 issue of The Guardian and in next week's Gannawarra Times. 

UPDATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 - 1PM 

THREE more positive COVID-19 cases have been detected in the Gannawarra Shire.

It brings the number of active cases to four. 

The three new infections are household contacts of the initial case identified on Tuesday. 

No further exposure sites have been identified, but contract tracing interviews are underway.

The source of the outbreak is still being investigated. 

One new positive case has also been detected in the Swan Hill local government area. 

It comes as Victoria recorded 1438 new cases on Thursday.

There is a walk-in vaccination clinic running on Friday, October 1, from 11am to 2.30pm, at WD Thomas Activity Centre, Burgoyne Street, Kerang. 

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

NO additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified after a health care worker tested positive in Kerang on Tuesday.

It comes as wastewater testing is carried out in the shire to determine if there are more unknown cases in the community.

The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services said the local health unit was still investigating the source of the infection.

Woolworths Kerang remains the only exposure site – a Tier 2 exposure site.

The case shopped on September 25 between 3.22pm and 4.20pm.

It remains unclear whether the person worked while infectious, or whether staff that potentially worked with the infected person were required to isolate.

The DHHS could also not confirm whether the infected person had any household contacts.

Northern District Community Health (NDCH) chief executive officer Mandy Hutchinson said almost 200 people were tested for COVID-19 in Kerang on Tuesday.

"We did 58 swabs at NDCH and a further 136 at the rapid response (at Riverside Park in Kerang),” she said.

"That's a good effort.”

A further 90 people were tested on Wednesday.

The rapid response clinic will open on Thursday, from 9am to 12 noon, and again between 1pm and 3pm.

Ms Hutchinson said it was positive that there were no further exposure sites.

"Whilst DHHS is still investigating, and there is the potential for more cases, the fact that there are no further exposure sites is good news," she said.

Ms Hutchinson said the public health unit was co-ordinating wasterwater detection in the Gannawarra Shire.

Ms Hutchinson said there was no need for the community to be worried about going into lockdown.

"It feels like at this stage, it's not a panic situation," she said.

"Again, this has happened a few times and we seem to forget people that take it responsibly.

"If you get it, it's not something you've done badly, it's just unfortunate."

Ms Hutchinson encouraged anyone worried they might have COVID-19 to get tested.

For those wanting to get vaccinated, there are 20 spots available at NDCH's vaccine clinic on September 30 and 10 available in Cohuna on October 4.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from Woolworths Supermarkets said they were notified that a customer with COVID-19 visited their store on September 25.

"As a food retailer, we already have very high standards of cleaning and hygiene in place," they said.

"Customers and team members should be assured they can continue to safely shop and work at our Woolworths Kerang store.

"Any customers who shopped in the store at this time should follow the health advice from the DHHS."

WHAT WE KNOW

-  A positive COVID-19 case was reported in the Gannawarra Shire on Tuesday, September 28.

- The positive case is a health care worker. 

- There were 867 new positive cases in Victoria up to midnight on Monday, September 27. 

- The infected person visited Woolworths Kerang on Saturday, September 25 between 3.22pm and 4.20pm. It is a Tier 2 exposure site (get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result). 

- Northern District Community Health (NDCH) and Bendigo Health set up a COVID-19 testing drive-through at Riverside Park, Kerang.

- In total, 194 people were tested on Tuesday - 136 at the pop-up site, and 58 at the NDCH testing clinic. 

- Testing will resume at 9am Wednesday. Due to wet weather forecast, walk-in testing will be held at the Kerang Basketball Stadium on Maxwell Street. 

EXCLUSIVE 

THE COVID-19 infected person is a health care worker, the Health Department has confirmed. 

The local public health unit is investigating the acquisition source, and supporting the case to isolate.

It's unclear if the person worked while infected, however Woolworths Kerang has been identified as a Tier 2 exposure site.

The case shopped on September 25 between 3.22pm and 4.20pm.

Health service running drive-through testing site 

NORTHERN District Community Health (NDCH) chief executive officer Mandy Hutchinson told the Gannawarra Times the service was running a pop-up COVID-19 testing clinic at Riverside Park in Kerang on Tuesday..

"We encourage everyone who was at the exposure site to get tested today if they can, but we'll have the (Bendigo Health) Rapid Response Team here all week," Ms Hutchinson said.

"You can drive-through without a booking.

"NDCH will still have our clinic (34 Fitzroy Street, in Kerang) from 11am, but you will have to book in."

Ms Hutchinson encouraged anyone who was at the exposure site or experiencing symptoms to get tested on Tuesday, and for those who were anxious about having the virus to get tested on Wednesday.

Her message to the community was that when there was a positive COVID-19 case in the Gannawarra Shire, the person was always careful not to spread the virus.

"This time around, it feels like it will be the same situation," she said.

"You don't need to know too much about people in these circumstances as they didn't mean to get COVID-19, so be kind and careful and look after the vulnerable people.

"And, check-in to ensure everyone is OK."

Ms Hutchinson said it was a timely reminder to continue wearing a mask, social distance, wash your hands, and to get vaccinated.

"We've still got the places to get vaccinated in Kerang, Cohuna and Swan Hill," she said.

"If you haven't been vaccinated, get vaccinated."

Ms Hutchinson said NDCH has requested more vaccine supply.

"We think there will be a greater demand for vaccinations – and for the Bendigo Health team to come up as we are short-staffed," she said.

"We're doing as much as we can – in the capacity that we've got to do at the moment."

A spokeswoman from SHDH said the drive-through COVID-19 testing site at McCallum Street in Swan Hill would continue to operate from 9am to 1pm daily.

EARLIER: 

A POSITIVE COVID-19 case has been identified in Kerang, with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services confirming Woolworths Kerang as a tier two exposure site.

Deputy secretary of engagement and delivery in the COVID-19 Public Health Team, Kate Matson, said the acquisition of the Gannawarra case was unknown.

Shoppers who visited the supermarket on Saturday, September 25, between 3.22pm and 4.20pm, are advised to get tested as soon as possible, monitor for symptoms, and isolate until they receive a negative result.

A spokesman for the DHHS said further details on the case were under investigation.

Bendigo Health's Rapid Response Team is running a drive-through clinic on Tuesday, September 28 at Riverside Park in Kerang from 1.30pm, where those who have been potentially exposed can get tested.

Other testing clinics in the area are at Northern District Community Health Medical Clinic in Kerang (by appointment) and the Swan Hill District Health drive-through testing site on McCallum Street in Swan Hill, which is open from 9am to 1pm daily (no appointment needed).