Council activates additional COVID-19 response measures
Published on 27 March 2020
Mildura Rural City Council is working hard to ensure services continue amid the unprecedented challenges of the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation.
The organisation is also implementing measures to work with other agencies and to aid those in the community impacted by the outbreak, while ensuring residents are kept informed of the rapidly-changing situation.
Council has also activated its Communicable Disease Pandemic Plan, which addresses general pandemic planning, and provides Council resources to the Department of Health and Human Services, state and federal authorities and the wider Mildura community.
Council’s Communicable Disease Pandemic Plan aims to:
- Minimise and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the region
- Manage Council’s response through community and employee protection
- Keep the community informed about measures being taken by Council, and lead agencies, to combat the outbreak
- Maintain essential Council services
- Activate community support and recovery measures
- Implement risk mitigation measures, such as vaccination, as and when they become available
Key advice is also being shared with the public through Council’s website and social media channels to ensure residents are well informed of what is required to limit the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Mildura Mayor Cr Simon Clemence said it was vital the community continues to adhere to the strict measures put in place by lead agencies to ensure the spread of COVID-19 is kept to a minimum.
“These are unprecedented times,” he said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed our lives, and will continue to do so for many more months.
“A number of residents have already been negatively affected by measures put in place by our state and Commonwealth governments, and while these are necessary steps to ensure the safety of the broader community, it does not ease the pain as people are forced to close their businesses, or isolate themselves from family and friends.
“We must support one another, care for one another, and above all else, do everything we can to limit the spread of this virus.”
Cr Clemence said Council is committed to continuing services deemed essential, this includes Maternal and Child Health, waste management, immunisations, and aged and disability services.
“Service continuity will continue to be assessed against current government advice and guidelines, with changes to be adopted and communicated to the public as necessary,” he said.
“While Council Service Centres are currently closed to the public, our dedicated customer service team is still contactable by phone and email.”
In the meantime, the public is encouraged to keep up-to-date with current information distributed by the DHHS (www.dhhs.vic.gov.au) and the Chief Health Officer (www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/chief-health-officer), or visit mildura.vic.gov.au
Residents are also urged to practice good personal hygiene – washing your hands often, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, clean and disinfect high touch surfaces regularly and stay home if you are sick.
“I cannot stress how important it is for our community to follow the social distancing, hygiene and health protocols currently in place. By doing so, we will continue to protect one another,” Cr Clemence said.