Well before 9am, long lines of people spilled onto sidewalks and roads in Pakenham as locals queued up to get tested for Covid-19 this morning, Thursday 23 September.
Melbourne Pathology’s walk through site at unit 2, 63 Main Street Pakenham had an orderly line heading back towards the Princes Highway and Monash Health’s IYU Henry Road drive through site also had a queue back to Henry Lawson Drive before 9am.
IYU Recreation Reserve Henry Road is at capacity and no further people will be accepted.
It comes after three locations in Pakenham were named tier 2 exposure sites in the last 14 days; St Antony Medical Centre, Pakenham Market Place Woolworths and Pakenham Place Coles.
Other locations in Pakenham have been named Covid exposure sites in Facebook groups, however they are still unconfirmed by the government’s public exposure sites website.
A sign seen by a Gazette journalist at Eastcare Medical Centre on the Pakenham Main Street said they were temporarily closed for deep cleaning.
Pakenham Produce and Saddlery wrote on Facebook they wanted to “ensure we exercise an abundance of caution.”
“We wanted to advise that a team member at Pakenham Produce and Saddlery has tested positive to Covid-19. The team member developed symptoms on Monday after last working at the store on Friday 17 September, which is prior to their infectious period,” the said.
“Whist the Department of Health and Human Services conducts its investigation, we would advise that if you visited our store on Friday, you should monitor closely for symptoms.
“Even though we have not yet been deemed an exposure site by the DHHS, we have carried out precautionary cleaning and disinfecting.”
Officer Specialist School sent a message to parents and carers to let them know holiday programs would be closed today, Thursday 23 September, due to a positive Covid case attending the school on Thursday 16 September.
