By Alesha Capone
Wyndham council has increased its cleaning regime in city centres and public places, with some employees whose usual roles have been impacted by COVID-19 redeployed into cleaning roles.
Wyndham mayor, Cr Josh Gilligan, last week said the council was ramping up efforts to clean surfaces that are frequently touched.
“We know that COVID-19 is highly contagious and can be spread through surfaces that have been touched by infected individuals,” Cr Gilligan said.
“That’s why we are increasing our cleaning regime in public places, and ensuring public seats and benches, public phones, ATMS, bin handles and shop door handles are regularly disinfected and cleaned.
“Other surfaces to be cleaned regularly include ramp rails, bus and train station seats and rails, bike racks, and of course, the buttons at pedestrian crossings.”
Cr Gilligan said a key part of the council’s response to COVID-19 was to ensure that staff remained in employment.
“While the key goal of this initiative is to ensure these surfaces are as clean as possible, it’s also important that we take care of our staff and ensure they can continue to work,” Cr Gilligan said.
“The staff being redeployed to do this important work are those who are unable to continue in their substantive roles as the delivery of this work has been impacted by the spread of the virus.”
Also last week, the state government announced a mobile coronavirus testing site would be set up at Pacific Werribee.
The mobile testing site opened at the shopping centre on Wednesday, as part of the state government’s blitz to test up to 100,000 Victorians in two weeks.
Mobile testing sites were also opened at Bunnings West Footscray, Watergardens Town Centre and Highpoint.
The testing sites are manned by doctors, nurses and pathology collection staff.
Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos has urged people with even the mildest symptoms to get tested.
Symptoms that should prompt people to get tested include fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, loss of sense of smell, or a runny nose.
