More than 1200 people were tested on Monday after five new Central Victorian cases and 15 exposure sites were confirmed. Bendigo Health was forced to close the testing lines and turn people away within 45 minutes of the drive-through and walk-in clinic opening. Extraordinary wait times are again predicted for Tuesday, with the health service reminding people to prepare for long waits.“We do not have toilet facilities at either site and while we understand it‘s not ideal, it helps reduce the threat of Covid spreading,” Bendigo Health said. “Evidence from previous outbreaks across the state have shown toilet facilities at testing clinics can become exposure sites.”Bendigo Health announced extended hours at the Bendigo Showgrounds drive-through testing site, running from 8.30am to 6pm, and the McLaren St facility from 10am to 6pm. The surge in testing comes after a major Bendigo shopping centre was listed as an exposure site.Covid commander Jeroen Weimar confirmed two cases of Covid in the Mount Alexander and Macedon Ranges on Monday. Mr Weimar said the Mount Alexander case was linked to a number of Bendigo exposure sites. He said the patient worked in Melbourne but lived in Mount Alexander. Mr Weimar said there was the new case in the Macedon Ranges that was under investigation.There were zero new cases recorded in Greater Bendigo.Another three new cases were also recorded in the Mitchell Shire.Bendigo Health said testing wait times had blown out to more than six hours after 15 businesses across Bendigo, Kyneton and Woodend were identified as exposure sites on the weekend.The health service said there was a four to six hour wait for the drive through testing clinic at the Bendigo Showgrounds while the McLaren St centre had a two-hour line-up. “Due to the large number of people in the line for testing at both sites we are now closing the lines to new people so we can test the people already waiting,” Bendigo Health announced on Monday morning. “We are looking at how we can increase testing capacity.“If you are impacted please isolate at home and try again tomorrow.”The showgrounds testing facility was specifically opened after Tier 2 exposure sites were listed across Central Victoria on Sunday. The Department of Health has released a list of five Kyneton, seven Bendigo and three Woodend addresses identified as Tier 2 sites after a Covid case the businesses. Anyone who has visited this location during these times should urgently get tested, then isolate until confirmation of a negative result. Health authorities said everyone should continue to monitor for symptoms, get tested again if symptoms appear.The exposure sites are:TerryWhite Chemmart, Mollison St Kyneton: 11.00am – 11.40am, Wednesday September 15Woolworths Kyneton, Jennings St, Kyneton: 11.10am – 11.45am Wednesday September 15 McIntyre’s Veterinary Surgery, Mollison St, Kyneton: 12.15pm – 12.35pm, Friday September 17 BP Service Station, High St Kyneton: From 3.30pm – 4.10pm, Friday September 17 Mollison‘s Fish and Chips, Mollison St Kyneton: 1.00pm – 1.35pm, Saturday September 18 Toppers Cafe, Hargreaves St, Bendigo: 11.34am – 12.10pm, Friday September 17 Donut King, Bendigo Marketplace: 11.55am – 12.35pm, Friday September 17 Bendigo Marketplace: 11.25am – 12.15pm, Thursday September 16 and 10.41am – 12.35pm, Friday September 17 ZiNG Pop Culture, Bendigo Marketplace: 11.28am – 12.05pm, Thursday September 16 and 11.03am – 11.39am, Friday September 17 Big W, Bendigo Marketplace: 10.48am – 11.33am, Friday September 17 EB Games, Bendigo Marketplace: 11.09am – 11.45am, Friday September 17 JB HiFi Hargreaves St, Bendigo: 11.08am – 11.45am, Thursday September 16 and 11.22am – 12.01pm, Friday September 17 Top Shop Fish and Chips, High St Woodend: 10.45am – 11.30am, Friday September 10 Coles High St, Woodend: 10.30am – 11.25am, Friday September 10 Woodend Children’s Park, Nicholson St, Woodend: 2.00pm – 4.30pm, Thursday September 9It comes as Geelong, the Surf Coast and Mitchell Shire were plunged back into lockdown after new Covid cases emerged on Sunday.The snap seven-day lockdown began at 11.59pm on Sunday with a 10km travel limit and four hours of exercise and outdoor social interaction allowed each day.Premier Daniel Andrews announced the lockdown after four cases were identified in Geelong and the Surf Coast and seven in Mitchell Shire.
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