In short:
Health experts are warning Victoria could experience a late winter spike in influenza and COVID-19 cases following a slower start to the season.
Later Winter Illness Surge Anticipated
Victorians are being encouraged to prepare for an expected late winter surge in seasonal respiratory illnesses, with health experts warning that lower case numbers earlier in the season could lead to an increase in influenza and COVID-19 cases over the coming weeks.
Health authorities are reminding people it is not too late to receive a flu or COVID-19 vaccination, with immunisation remaining one of the best ways to reduce the risk of serious illness and severe symptoms.
Residents are also being asked to keep emergency departments and Triple Zero available for the most serious and life-threatening cases by considering other healthcare options for non-emergency conditions.
Victoria’s 38 Urgent Care Clinics are open seven days a week with extended hours, providing free treatment for a range of non-life-threatening conditions, including sprains, simple fractures, cuts and mild infections.
The clinics are staffed by GPs and nurses and do not require a Medicare card.
More than 900 pharmacies across Victoria also provide a range of healthcare services through the Chemist Care Now program.
In addition to vaccinations, participating pharmacists can assess and treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections, musculoskeletal pain and provide prescriptions for the oral contraceptive pill where appropriate.
The state’s Virtual Emergency Department also remains available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, allowing patients to consult emergency doctors and nurses via video call from home.
Since launching in 2020, the service has delivered more than 900,000 consultations, with around 83 per cent of patients in the past year avoiding a visit to hospital.
Victorians can also access the Nurse-on-Call service at any time of the day or night, where registered nurses provide immediate health advice and direct callers to the most appropriate level of care.
People experiencing a medical emergency should continue to call Triple Zero immediately.
Information about vaccinations, Urgent Care Clinics and other healthcare services is available through Better Health Victoria.
FOLLOW US
