Thomson Unit locked down after COVID-19 positive person presented to facility on Wednesday

Staff writers

A person who presented to the Thomson Women’s, Children and Birthing Unit at Latrobe Regional Hospital (LRH) on Wednesday has tested positive to COVID-19.

The person has since been transferred to a Melbourne hospital.

The Gippsland Region Public Health Unit (GRPHU) and LRH have implemented protocols to manage any risk to clinical and non-clinical staff, patients and visitors to the unit.

As a result, the Thomson Unit has been locked down, with birthing and paediatric
support to be provided by Central Gippsland Health in Sale and West Gippsland Healthcare Group in Warragul for the interim.

LRH will continue to support women who are in an advanced state of labour.

Women and newborns currently in the unit are being cared for by midwives who were not on duty at the time of exposure.

A GRPHU spokesperson said anyone who was in the unit before 12.30pm on Wednesday is not at risk of exposure.