Fifteen coronavirus cases in Frankston

THERE are 15 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Frankston area as of 27 March.

New figures released by the Department of Health and Human Services break down the number of positive coronavirus cases by local government area. The neighbouring Mornington Peninsula Shire region has the second most in the state, with 39 cases at the latest count.

Other neighbouring municipalities have also recorded positive COVID-19 cases. There are 20 in the City of Casey region, six in Kingston, and three in Greater Dandenong.

Committee for Mornington Peninsula president Bruce Billson has asked Victoria’s Chief Health Officer, Professor Brett Sutton, to prevent positively diagnosed COVID-19 cases from travelling to the peninsula.

“Your latest COVID-19 incident report notes the Mornington Peninsula has the second highest number of confirmed cases of municipalities in Victoria,” Mr Billson said.

“Reports today also identify that infected people and returning travellers are choosing to travel to our region to be isolated, potentially placing huge pressure on local health resources. Holiday homes and AirBnB properties are reportedly popular isolation destinations for people whose primary place of residence is in metropolitan Melbourne.

“Is it not preferable to have confirmed and isolated people stay in their principle place of residence where the medical services and infrastructure is better matched to the permanent population, rather than adding to the health capacity challenges in a region like the Mornington Peninsula?”